In this insightful interview with Anshuman Kumar, Director - Global Brand, Tech & Corporate Communications at Intuit, we explore how their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts transcend traditional philanthropy by integrating social and environmental considerations into its core business model. Kumar emphasizes that Intuit's mission to "power prosperity around the world" goes beyond providing financial tools and extends deeply into the communities they serve. This commitment is embodied through initiatives such as the 'Intuit Rise - Girl Child Education Program,' which not only offers scholarships but also holistic educational support and life skills training for young girls from underserved communities. This program, along with other efforts like achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and supporting small businesses, showcases how Intuit aligns its business operations with broader societal goals.
Furthermore, Intuit's approach to CSR is characterized by robust impact measurement for the highest levels of transparency and accountability, continuous engagement with community stakeholders and active involvement of employees. Kumar highlights how they have effectively been able to leverage their strengths as a technology company to craft innovative solutions for social good.
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Q. Intuit's CSR efforts encompass volunteering, employee giving, and "Small Business Big Impact Day." How does the company go beyond philanthropy and integrate social and environmental considerations into its core business model?
A. At Intuit, we strongly believe that everyone deserves the chance to thrive in this world. Our mission is to power prosperity around the world and we aim to empower individuals with the opportunity to succeed. Our efforts to promote prosperity go beyond our products - we also extend this commitment to the communities we serve. This responsibility is ingrained in our company's values and strategy. Some of the ways in which we have thought about this are below
- Empowerment: In line with our global commitment to promote equal opportunities, we launched the 'Intuit Rise - Girl Child Education Program' in 2017. This program aims to provide holistic education for girls, focusing on their future and supporting their communities. We are dedicated to providing education support, including after-school programs, life skills training, and career guidance, to help shape a brighter future for all. Our employees are closely tied to the program and its success, spearheading this initiative. We identify the girl children through our employee referral program as well as through strategic partnerships with non-governmental organisations who are working for the same cause. Till date we have provided scholarships to 1731 girl students and have received around 2500+ applications (including renewal and new referrals).
- Sustainability: Intuit took a bold step forward in our climate journey by committing to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our operations and supply chain by FY40. This target has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global body that enables businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. Our commitment is also aligned with the Paris Climate Accords, an international treaty on climate change that calls for net-zero global emissions by 2050.
- Supporting Small Businesses: By providing financial and technological solutions to small businesses globally, Intuit helps them reduce their environmental impact and achieve sustainability. For example, QuickBooks helps small businesses streamline their financial operations, reducing paper usage and promoting digital payments. The first-ever Intuit Small Business Big Impact Day, held in February 2023, was dedicated to uniting employee contributions across the organization to strengthen and give back to local communities. We purchased $1M-worth of items directly from local small businesses, and the items were then donated to local nonprofits. Thousands of employees gathered at 17 Intuit offices around the world to sort, package, assemble, add personal touches, and deliver these products to communities in need.
Q. While the organisation highlights program participation and volunteer hours, how does the company establish a robust impact measurement framework for its CSR initiatives?
A. Intuit India has a structured program to monitor and track the progress of each girl child enrolled in the program, including regular check-ins, academic performance tracking, and monitoring of attendance. A dedicated program management team oversees the implementation, monitoring, and impact assessment of the initiative, ensuring adherence to predefined metrics and goals.
Our programme has identified measurable outcomes such as the number of girls enrolled, academic performance improvements, dropouts prevented, and successful transitions to higher education or employment. Intuit engages with independent third-party organizations to conduct periodic evaluations and impact assessments of the program, providing an objective and unbiased assessment of its effectiveness. Additionally, we collect and analyze data on various aspects of the program, including demographic data, socio-economic indicators, and progress metrics, following a data-driven approach to make informed decisions and adjustments.
Q. The organisation encourages employee referrals for "Intuit Rise." How can the company further cultivate a sense of employee ownership over its CSR initiatives?
A. For the ‘Intuit Rise - Girl Child Education Program’, our goal has always been to create a larger and more durable impact. Our employees are such important stakeholders of the program and this is why the program has really scaled from when we first started in 2017. Under the CSR Indicatives, we started the employee referral program, to encourage employees to refer deserving girl children and be a torchbearer for the child, encouraging her to get an education and continue inspiring them to be an achiever. We’ve also expanded the programme by partnering with non-governmental organisations to give even more support to the program's participants.
Apart from this, we also encouraged our employees to sign on as mentors, as the program is designed to ensure the student/scholar is equipped with necessary life skills for future success in the workplace. A complete online platform is created to connect our Volunteers/Employees with young and aspiring scholars along with a subject matter expert. Through this online platform we are also able to track the program success and how it is impacting the lives of students.
We have also extended our support by providing our beneficiaries with access to the right technology to continue their learning process. Intuit provided over 200 laptops to our beneficiaries from our Intuit Rise - The Girl Child Education Program over the last two years with the goal of continuing this contribution year-over-year. Having a laptop for a student means a lot more than easy access to lessons and assignments, also creating a better study space ensures overall development.
Q.The company’s CSR efforts target girl-child education and underserved communities. How does the company ensure its CSR initiatives are inclusive and address the needs of diverse populations across race, gender, ethnicity, and ability?
A. The 'Intuit Rise - Girl Child Education Program' specifically targets empowering young girls from lower income backgrounds and underserved communities who do not have access to education. This focus on underprivileged girls helps address gender and socio-economic disparities. The program uses an employee referral system where Intuit employees can identify and refer deserving girl students from diverse backgrounds. This grassroots approach helps reach out to students from varied communities that employees are connected to.
Intuit has also partnered with NGOs like Buddy4Study that work to provide scholarships to students from underprivileged sections, promoting inclusivity. The program provides not just financial assistance but also mentorship, life skills training, career guidance and access to technology like laptops.
Q. As a tech company, how can you leverage the technological expertise to create innovative solutions for social good?
A. Intuit harnesses its technological prowess to craft innovative solutions that serve a dual purpose: driving prosperity for individuals and small businesses while also fostering positive societal impact. Through its suite of products such as TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and MailChimp Intuit empowers millions worldwide by streamlining financial processes, thus enabling them to save time and maximize their financial well-being. Intuit's commitment to social good extends beyond its product offerings. Recognizing the persistent challenges of economic inequality and climate change, Intuit proactively engages in initiatives aimed at addressing these issues head-on. For instance, the company's job readiness programs equip students with essential financial and career skills, ensuring they are better prepared for the challenges of adulthood and the workforce. We've remained committed to using our resources and scale to provide jobs for people who need them today, as well as help prepare the next generation by giving them the durable skills they need for future financial success.
Moreover, Intuit's Prosperity Hub Program is dedicated to creating job opportunities in underserved communities, thereby fostering economic empowerment and resilience. Our goal continues to be to create financial opportunities that fuel the success of the people and communities we serve. Working with key customer success partners, we hire, train, and retain talent to provide domain and product expertise supporting QuickBooks and TurboTax. As Intuit continues to grow, we’ll continue to increase hiring for these virtual jobs supporting our Customer Success team in underserved communities across the globe.
Additionally, the company takes a comprehensive approach to climate action, both within its operational footprint and in the broader communities it serves. By driving initiatives that reduce emissions, build resilience, and promote sustainable practices, Intuit aims to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change while empowering communities to thrive in a changing environment.
At Intuit, one of our core values is We Care and Give Back. Our success as a company over the years has created a sense of responsibility for caring for and giving back to the communities in which we operate and beyond. It enables us to be a steward of the future. And we strive to give everyone the opportunity to prosper as we strengthen the communities around us. We do this through both strategic corporate responsibility programs and our employee-led activities that give back to the community and better support our customers. We’re always looking to channel this shared passion of our employees by providing them with active ways to give to their communities. From giving employees paid time to volunteer for causes they believe in, to showcasing small businesses as part of company events, to developing innovative new programs that connect small businesses with local nonprofits, we’ve incorporated supporting our customers and the communities we serve into the operating mechanisms of the company.
Q. While offering paid volunteer time-off is valuable, how can you further maximize the impact of employee volunteerism? And how does the company go beyond volunteer hours to measure employee engagement with its CSR initiatives?
A. Encouraging skill-based volunteering allows employees to leverage their professional expertise and knowledge to provide pro-bono consulting, mentoring, or training to non-profit organizations or beneficiaries. Additionally, facilitating team-based volunteer events can foster camaraderie, teamwork, and a sense of collective impact among employees. Empowering employees to lead volunteer initiatives or serve on non-profit boards can enhance their leadership skills while contributing to the community.
Q. How does the establishment ensure transparency in its CSR activities? Does the company publish regular reports detailing its CSR goals, progress, challenges, and impact on stakeholders?
A. Intuit publishes an annual Corporate Responsibility Report that provides a comprehensive overview of its CSR goals, progress, challenges, and impact on various stakeholders. This report covers a wide range of topics, including environmental sustainability, employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, ethical business practices, and community engagement. It outlines Intuit's specific targets and metrics for each area, allowing stakeholders to track the company's performance and hold it accountable.
Furthermore, Intuit believes in transparency and shares information about its CSR programs, partnerships, and achievements. The company also regularly communicates its CSR efforts through various channels, such as social media, press releases, and stakeholder engagement events. Intuit is committed to building trust with its stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and the broader community.
Q. In the evolving world of work, how does Intuit consider the impact of its business practices on the future of work, such as promoting remote work opportunities, fostering digital skills development, or advocating for policies that support a more equitable and inclusive work environment?
A. Intuit recognizes the changing landscape of work and incorporates future-proofing strategies into their practices. It acknowledges the value of hybrid work and offers flexibility through their "Workplace of the Future Strategy". This allows employees to work remotely while maintaining collaboration through designated in-office days for innovation and social connection.
Understanding the growing demand for tech proficiency, the company invests in employee training programs and partnerships to equip its workforce with the necessary digital competencies. For example, one of Intuit’s global programs - the Digital Literacy Program equips underrepresented communities with digital skills essential for the future of work.
Intuit also advocates for policies supporting an equitable and inclusive work environment. By championing diversity initiatives and inclusive policies, such as pay equity and flexible work arrangements, Intuit strives to create a workplace where every individual feels valued and empowered to succeed.
