Telus Corp.
For Telus, what it calls social capitalism isn't a contradiction or a platitude. The telecommunications titan has shown that even for big corporations, profit and purpose can go together. “We want to make sure that every part of our business, everything that we do, always relates back to driving social change or doing good for the community, leveraging our assets to build products and services that benefit society,” says chief social innovation and communications officer Jill Schnarr.
Telus recently launched the Pollinator Fund for Good, a social impact vehicle that will allocate $100 million over 10 years to early-stage companies focused on four areas: transforming health care, promoting social and economic inclusion, supporting responsible agriculture and caring for the planet. Given the impact of COVID, Vancouver-headquartered Telus has a responsibility to help new businesses thrive, Schnarr says. “We're going to invest in startup companies that are trying to answer
some of the biggest challenges facing our society.”
With its Connecting for Good programs, Telus supports vulnerable Canadians by giving them access to technology. For example, Mobility for Good provides free smartphones and data plans to youth leaving foster care, as well as to low-income seniors. Through Health for Good, a fleet of 11 vans that serve as mobile clinics, the company helps health authorities across the country deliver care to the urban homeless and to others in need.
Such efforts have won Telus global recognition. Last year, it was the only telecom named to the Wall Street Journal 's Top 100 Sustainably Managed Companies list, ranking 29th overall and 15th in social capital. It also made the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the fifth year in a row and the index's North American edition for the 20th straight year.
“I love that we can be an example to help other companies learn,” says Schnarr, who adds that it took time for Telus to make philanthropy integral to its business. Organizations won't survive unless they look beyond profit
and take care of all stakeholders, she warns. “I think it's the only way businesses will be sustainable in the long run.”