As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday I’m reminded that nonprofits don’t serve just their constituents, but that they’re also grounded in another commonwealth, their local community. At Applied Materials we were pioneers in recognizing the importance of companies paying attention to the communities in which they operate. We always kept a local focus and made sure we acknowledged our community in the shareholder letter in our annual report. An organization cannot thrive in a community that is not itself thriving. Engaging with local organizations and groups, and with government, is not a distraction or a luxury. It gives a leader a better sense of the big picture, protects the interests and welfare of employees, and allows for more intelligent and practical advocacy. - Does your organization participate actively within your local community?
- What opportunities exist for engaging more fully with your community?