For corporate social contribution managers, field social workers, and prospective social workers
The Story of a Social Worker with 17 Years of Corporate Social Responsibility

The most important thing a corporate social responsibility manager must do is plan a social contribution program unique to the company that others do not.
This is not an easy task in today's world where numerous companies are implementing various social contribution programs.
It is even more difficult if you do not understand social contribution or social welfare.
I think reading this book will be of some help to your work.


Social workers in the field create program sponsorship proposals to receive corporate sponsorship and send them by email to corporate representatives, or meet with corporate representatives through someone's introduction and make proposals.
If you don't understand corporate social responsibility, it's difficult to get sponsorship.
This book will be of great help to social workers in the field in understanding corporate social contribution.


It is said that the most preferred field of employment for social welfare students is corporate social contribution.
However, there is little information about corporate social contribution employment.
By sharing my vivid story as a corporate social contribution manager with aspiring social workers who dream of becoming corporate social workers, I hope to serve as a small guide for aspiring social workers who also want to become corporate social contribution managers.

I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the corporate social responsibility officers who are practicing sharing even at this very moment, and to my seniors, colleagues, and junior social workers who are working hard in the social welfare field.

It's already been 17 years since I started working in corporate social responsibility.
While working with many organizations and social workers, I sometimes provided encouragement and support, but there were also many times when I felt regret.
In particular, non-profit organization managers were not very knowledgeable about corporate social contribution.
I think it's because there isn't much information and there aren't many opportunities to meet and talk.
I only heard stories floating around on the internet and YouTube, but I didn't know how corporate social contribution actually worked, and I was curious about it.
On the other hand, in some areas, I was trying to understand and learn too much about the company.
Nonprofit organizations are also trying to learn and understand the changing issues of corporate social responsibility, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), creating shared value (CSV), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG).

Of course, it is a necessary effort to be able to suggest various programs based on a basic understanding.
But you don't necessarily need to know too much.
Even within the company, people who are not in charge or in the relevant department do not know much about it and are not interested.
Corporate understanding is the responsibility of corporate managers, and non-profit organization managers need to increase their expertise in social welfare.
Specifically, you need to have program planning skills and have an edge in your non-profit expertise when talking to corporate representatives.
This is so that the company representative can trust you and accept your proposal.
On the other hand, I, the person in charge of corporate social contribution, am a social worker with over 20 years of social welfare experience.
However, since the non-profit organization staff I work with are social workers with little experience, I also felt regretful that I had to supervise their work.
---From "Prologue | I am a Corporate Social Worker"

When I started working in social welfare about 20 years ago, corporate welfare foundations were making significant contributions to the field of social welfare. There were also meetings of corporate welfare foundation officials, and even I, working at a non-profit organization, had the opportunity to build personal relationships with several people through introductions.
At that time, corporate welfare foundations were a major source of support for social welfare organizations in need of sponsorship, and many field welfare workers tried to build connections with corporate welfare foundations, and these connections often led to sponsorship.
Since the 2000s, corporate social contribution has begun to emerge in earnest.
The Corporate Welfare Foundation is a separate, invested organization with its own organization and business objectives. It must obtain approval from the Board of Directors and the competent authority in accordance with the corporate operating procedures before it can carry out its business.
Because these procedures must be followed even when major business changes occur, limitations have begun to appear, making it difficult for companies to move quickly to engage in timely social contribution activities.

Within the limitations of these welfare foundations, the direction of corporate social contribution began to change in a direction that allowed companies to directly implement social contribution activities and to satisfy the desire to promote their activities.
As a result, the term ‘corporate social contribution’ began to spread as the corporate social contribution team was created.
Instead of the existing welfare foundation program competition or sponsorship program, companies began to find programs they wanted to run and implement them together with welfare organizations that could work together.
On the one hand, it is the beginning of a partnership, and on the other hand, it is the beginning of a relationship between the two.
---From "What is Corporate Social Responsibility?"

“Can I speak to someone in charge of social contribution?”
As a corporate social responsibility manager, I receive many proposals from outside sources.
Some calls are connected to me by calling the company's main number and asking to be connected to the person in charge of social contribution, and some receive donation suggestions through the customer feedback menu on the company's website.
I also receive a lot of newsletters and proposals by mail, and sometimes people I know through acquaintances make proposals.
(...)
There may be a connection among the programs that have been proposed several times, or there may be cases where a company contacts you first due to its own needs.
Forget the idea that it can be done all at once.
Even if you try ten times, it won't come over.
On the other hand, you should frequently attend external social contribution seminars.
This is also good for understanding corporate social contribution trends.
Additionally, it is necessary to carefully observe the list of attendees registered at the reception desk and to approach the various company representatives who arrive on site first and exchange business cards with them.
You should frequently send various offers by email to the business representatives who received your business card.
That way, I won't forget your presence.

A proposal doesn't require grandiose material.
It is difficult to look through all the data and emails one by one.
Usually, most of them will just be thrown away or deleted.
Please write it simply and clearly so that people can click and take a quick look.
If a company representative is interested in the item, they will contact you again to inquire.
Then, you can explain over the phone and, if necessary, schedule a meeting and prepare.
It's exactly what you'd call a heading to the bare ground.
It's not easy to find a company representative you don't even know and deliver your proposal without knowing whether they're interested or not.
It's even more miserable when you're ignored on the phone.
But shouldn't we do it? I'm not here to make money; we're here to help our neighbors in need. So, we should take on the challenge with pride and self-esteem, without giving up.
---From "It won't go over even if you hit it ten times"

Typically, proposals state that the company's promotional effect will be increased through introductions in the organization's newsletter, website, and member information.
But companies aren't interested in that.
Don't show off.
The promotional effect that companies think of is exposure to the media, such as print or the Internet.
But can a nonprofit organization get media exposure by running a program? Even public relations teams at large corporations struggle to promote their programs to the media. So, if a nonprofit issues a press release to a news outlet, will it get published in print or online? Publicity can be done if the sponsoring company so desires.
Whether it's a donation ceremony or a program performance event, the company can do it.
No, it has to be done by the company.
It is unreasonable to demand that sponsorship money provide promotional effects.
Companies pay money to advertise and write promotional articles.
But can a non-profit organization pay media outlets to promote its programs as operating expenses? No.
No, you shouldn't do that.
That's the company's responsibility.
---From "How to save sponsorship proposals without deleting them"

What field will you pursue after graduating with a degree in social welfare? Some people already have a clear idea of ​​their desired field, while others may decide on a career path through internship experience. Still others may rely on information or recommendations from acquaintances.
Of course, there will be many cases where people do not get jobs in the social welfare field.
(...)
First, you must major in social welfare in college.
The school's reputation is important, but alumni form the basis of the human network in the social welfare field.
To carry out social contribution work, close cooperation with external organizations is necessary.
Having a diverse network of people can make your work much easier.
Therefore, I would like to suggest that you major in social welfare as an undergraduate.


Second, obtain a master's degree.
Of course, if you have the time, you can consider a day course, but if you are working, I would suggest going to a night school to earn a master's degree.
It helps with logical thinking and writing for planning proposals, and also plays an important role in building personal networks.
If you've been working in the social welfare field for about five years, I highly recommend considering going to graduate school at night.


Third, you must have experience in corporate social contribution.
Of course, it would be nice to get hired as a regular employee from the beginning, but it is really difficult and there are only a few positions available per year.
However, that doesn't mean you can just sit back and wait.
Even if it's a contract position, you have to get in and gain experience.
It is necessary to have a proactive attitude, such as becoming familiar with the corporate atmosphere, demonstrating your own capabilities to plan and implement programs, and building networks with other corporate officials.

If you want to become a corporate social responsibility manager, you must boldly prepare for that path.
You shouldn't take it lightly because it's a contract job.
If you have even a minimal amount of experience, you will be able to beat more than half of all resume submitters.
If you build your career step by step, you will have the opportunity to work at a better company of your choice.
---From "How to Become a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager"

I studied social welfare and work in the field, but especially in the women's field, women's human rights issues have become established as social issues through civic groups, so it seemed difficult to approach them from a social contribution perspective.
First, I researched corporate social contribution cases related to women online.
There has been little social contribution on the topic of women, and it has been difficult to find ways to approach it.
Then, the topic of immigrant women caught my eye.
I already knew that multicultural families have been a social issue for some time and that various social contribution programs have been discussed, so it wasn't unfamiliar.
I wanted to take a closer look.
We looked into social contribution cases related to immigrant women or multicultural families.
Korean language classes, experiences and education on understanding our culture, visits to the motherland, and medical support were all supported.
I have compiled a list of social contribution programs related to multicultural families that companies are carrying out.
Almost similar programs were in progress.

We looked for a new field because we didn't think we needed to duplicate what other companies were already doing.
Then, the word “immigrant women” was connected, and it was possible to understand that domestic violence against immigrant women was emerging as a social problem.
In a situation where the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is already expanding the operation of multicultural family support centers nationwide, it was inevitable to think that the human rights issues of immigrant women belonged to the private sector.
After searching through these stories, I discovered that the Korea Migrant Women's Human Rights Center is the only private organization that collects and supports cases of domestic violence against migrant women in Korea.
---From "Immigrant Women, Facing Inconvenient Truths"

In the case of children coming from far away for treatment, there are many cases where they cannot be admitted to a hospital room, so it is difficult for them to stay in a motel for a few days at a time. Therefore, three additional free lodging facilities were opened under the name of “Love’s Nest,” and with the support of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s private organization project competition, a Hope Angels group was formed with children who have recovered from leukemia. A program was also implemented where Hope Angels members and hospital medical social workers participated in a desert marathon together.
I remember that the Desert Marathon was considered for TV broadcasting through a production company affiliated with a broadcasting station, but it did not proceed due to the production company's lack of capabilities, and only a portion of the contract fee was returned.
(...)
The highest decision-making body of a corporate body is the general meeting of delegates composed of members, and annually, it regularly reports and receives approval for the previous year's business report and settlement of accounts, as well as the next year's business plan and budget.
There have always been issues raised about the operating costs of the office during this process. It's not like the office has higher salaries than other welfare organizations or is being run extravagantly, but they've always raised issues based on some unknown standard, like a certain percentage.
And then, in the end, this kind of thing came out.
“Don’t the employees work and receive a salary from donations because there are sick children?”
---From "Social workers get paid to work thanks to the children?"

The social worker profession is organized by the Korean Social Workers Association, which has established and is applying the Code of Ethics for Social Workers.
The national examination is administered by the Korea Human Resources Development Institute for Industry, and the issuance of certifications is handled by the Korea Social Workers Association.
There is no qualification reporting system, but according to Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the Social Welfare Services Act, those who establish and operate social welfare corporations and social welfare facilities are required to report matters related to the appointment and dismissal of social workers to the provincial governor and city/county/district governors by the end of each month.

(...)
Previously, graduating from a social welfare department could earn a social worker license, but with the implementation of the undergraduate system and the expansion of educational opportunities through cyber education and the credit bank system, the criteria for acquiring a social worker license have also changed to focus on completed courses.
Despite these changes to the social worker qualification system, the treatment of social workers in the field remains low, and there is little difference between grades in terms of hiring and compensation, which is regrettable as the purpose of the national examination is not properly reflected.
The continuing education for social workers was legislated through the amendment of the Social Welfare Services Act on December 14, 2007, and has been implemented since 2009.
Social workers are professionals who operate a certification system, national examinations, and continuing education based on academic theory. The Korean Social Workers Association is organized and has established and adheres to a code of ethics.
Corporate social workers must possess a sense of social welfare values ​​and identity, possess cool judgment and planning skills, and possess a warm heart that can practice sharing.

---From "Social workers are professionals (certification, national examination, continuing education, code of ethics, association)"