Practice Areas

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

C. Stewart Verdery, Andrew Howell, Jessica Herrera-Flanigan, Timothy E. Punke, Scott Corley, Rich Thomas, Jane Alonso, Lora Ries, and Ryan Spangler

The effort of companies to implement and communicate successful Corporate Social Responsibility programs has taken on an increased urgency. Company stakeholders – including employees, government officials, the media, and non-governmental organizations – are increasingly expecting corporate responsibility programs, and carefully scrutinizing the efforts of individual businesses.

Many companies have strong, long-standing CSR programs, backed by significant resources and the dedicated time of employees at all levels. While companies may have award-winning programs, few are good at effectively communicating their efforts to key influencers, including those in Washington DC: Congress, the Administration, other companies, non-government organizations, think tanks, and the media.

Monument Policy Group assists our clients in capturing the full range of benefits associated with a strong CSR commitment. Monument has experience helping companies understand the policy and political implications of their programs, and how their CSR efforts fit into a broader agenda in Washington, DC and around the world.

Monument can provide strategic counsel across the spectrum of corporate social responsibility matters, including, for example, sustainability, development, diversity, and human rights issues. Monument not only helps clients create, implement, and integrate CSR strategies, but also helps communicate those efforts to those in Washington who can have a dramatic impact on the company’s underlying business.

Monument Policy Group provides policy analysis and strategic counsel to companies and associations across all sectors to both seize opportunities and manage risks. We help clients create a public awareness of their efforts as they integrate their CSR programs and government relations efforts. We work with clients to create key relationships and build public-private alliances necessary to a strong CSR and government relations strategy. We work to improve credibility and image, improve important relationships, and decrease the risk of adverse publicity.

Our team includes Partner Tim Punke, who has worked with numerous companies, from Fortune 500 giants to smaller firms, on a diverse set of CSR issues, including sustainable farming, environmental practices and technologies, access to medicines in developing countries, and community involvement at the local level. Prior to his time in the private sector, Tim worked on international trade and development issues at the Senate Finance Committee and in the Clinton White House.  Partner Jessica Herrera-Flanigan has spent more than a decade working on issues relating to diversity and CSR.   
 
Monument’s greatest strength is working with companies to ensure that CSR efforts are complimenting a government relations strategy. That work includes not only good strategic counsel, but also effective and targeted outreach:

Policymakers. We help identify issues where companies’ business interests and CSR initiatives align with the priorities of Members and Administration officials. At the same time, we work with many companies and associations who have more experience “playing defense” – and we work to ensure that influencers in Washington, especially those who might normally be antagonistic towards a company or industry, understand the full efforts of our clients.

Allies and Associations. Navigating the maze of associations and think tanks working on any given issue can be incredibly challenging. We help clients identify and leverage relationships with associations and companies working on similar issues. 

Non-Government Organizations.  Monument’s team has experience working with a broad range of NGOs, many of whom welcome the opportunity to partner with reputable companies.

Media. We also work with “Inside the Beltway” media to ensure that our clients are effectively reaching the right audience at the right time. 

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS 

• Assisted a major pharmaceutical company with its CSR efforts to combat Mulit-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis.  Work included:
  • Advocacy for increased TB funding and ultimate passage of PEPFAR;
  • Placement of company profile piece in major Capitol Hill publication;
  • Placement of joint CEO-Member of Congress op-ed on TB funding;
  • Placement of joint company-NGO advertorials related to TB funding; 
  • Assistance with major events that included company, NGO and Congressional participation.
     
• Assisted pharmaceutical association in cataloguing and defining company CSR programs, and preparing Congressional advocacy program and strategy around CSR.

• Assisted major pharmaceutical company in comprehensive review and rewrite of its CSR strategy, including funding and strategic decisions related to both domestic and international programs.
   
• Assisted major forest products’ company with issues related to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
   
• Assisted major retailer with issues related to sustainability, energy use, and workforce benefits.