"In the wake of nationwide riots and looting, corporations decided to make wild declarations about their commitment to the organization Black Lives Matter and send them directly to customers or post them on social media.
You may have seen one of these and rolled your eyes. I know I have.
The Real BLM
Panicked CEOs decided to throw their money into a dark hole, where the leaders of the organization refuse to be transparent about how funds are spent.
Some analyses have shown BLM spends very little on local programs and much more on travel and consulting. Still other investigations have shown the BLM national organization is not a charity under IRS guidelines. Instead, they “borrow” 501(c)(3) status from a group called 1000 Currents. This charity just happens to be headed by a domestic terrorist who spent 16 years in federal prison for various bombings and other crimes. She would have stayed longer, but Bill Clinton pardoned her.A courageous CEO and executive team could have easily taken a different stance.
From the CEO
- If I were still involved in internal communications or giving input to external communications, I would have suggested something like this.
Dear Employee/Customer,
In response to recent events, Company X wants to reaffirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We strive to ensure our company is a reflection of the communities where we work and live, and our hiring and promotion policies reflect this.
However, at this time, we feel a need to redirect some of our corporate giving to assist disadvantaged communities. We evaluate our charitable partners very carefully and ensure that the majority of their funds go to programs in the communities they serve.
Company X is committing to $10M over five years to the Woodson Center. Founded in 1981 by civil rights leader Bob Woodson, the organization has a long history of improving distressed communities focusing on reducing violence and combatting addiction. They use 92.7% of donations to benefit their nationwide portfolio of programs...
Signed,
A CEO with Courage
No comments:
Post a Comment