acsis corporate social investment policy

acsis corporate social investment policy

page - 2 - of 8 background acsis is an independent asset consulting and financial planning company with a vision to facilitate a living financial plan in every South African's life. To this end, acsis believes that it has a fundamental responsibility to assist in improving the lives of individuals and communities in South Africa through its work. acsis has thus developed a corporate social investment policy that is aligned to the company s strategy and therefore contributes to the company s overall mission and vision. acsis corporate social investment (CSI) programme is a deliberate, focused, coherent and progressive programme that is aligned to its business imperatives and is therefore: well co-ordinated guided by a common policy framework has clear focus areas is mutually beneficial is seen as a strategic business function is aligned to the core business objectives of the acsis CSI programme The following are commonly shared objectives of the acsis CSI programme: make a meaningful investment in the future of the company; make a significant impact by building of rewarding sustainable relationships; enhance acsis image and reputation; support the strategic positioning of acsis as a caring and responsible corporate citizen. CSI policy policy statement acsis believes that being a responsible and contributing corporate citizen is a key component of its business strategy. The company is thus, through its community investment strategy, committed to empowering and nurturing people through individual interventions. purpose of the CSI policy The purpose of this CSI Policy is to: outline acsis CSI strategy and therefore its involvement in community development and upliftment; set out the processes and procedures by which acsis will identify, manage, and support its CSI activities.

page 3 of 8 CSI focus areas The focus areas outlined in this policy indicate where acsis will direct its CSI spend. In allocating resources to the outlined focus areas, acsis will be guided by the need to: focus on communities within which it operates focus/emphasise investments in disadvantaged communities support programmes that engender development acsis CSI footprint Investments will be made throughout South Africa, mainly focusing on the communities within which acsis operates. programme focus areas Two focus areas have been identified and are as follows: financial education and literacy lifestyle enhancement financial education and literacy acsis has identified financial education and financial literacy as one of its focus areas. The company will aim to improve access to financial education, particularly for disadvantaged women, through investment in: behavioural financial education programmes individual bursaries for post-graduate degrees (CFP) financial literacy programmes acsis will select one financial education and literacy project as a flagship project in this focus area. This will be reviewed on an annual basis. lifestyle enhancement acsis other focus area will aim to support projects that: develop youth/young adults through sport and cultural activities develop and grow disadvantaged groups/clubs/teams acsis will select one lifestyle enhancement project as a flagship project in this focus area. This will be reviewed on an annual basis.

page 4 of 8 flagship / non-flagship projects acsis will be proactive in establishing flagship projects within its financial education and literacy and lifestyle enhancements focus areas, and will allocate the majority of its CSI budget to the selected projects. The balance of CSI funding will be made available for reactive grants to smaller projects. In its endeavour to identify an appropriate flagship project, acsis will undertake to: investigate and establish relationships with identified partner organisations that are within the defined CSI focus areas and are aligned to the business; leverage its contribution by attracting other partners and contributors in order to satisfy a complete developmental need; clearly identify the roles, rights and intended benefits that pertain to each of the parties involved; ensure that flagship projects are sustainable in the long term, and achieve real and measurable developmental impacts. The remainder of the allocated CSI budget will be allocated to smaller non-flagship social investments that fall within one of the following sectors: environment and conservation disaster relief job creation skills training criteria for selecting projects All organisations and projects identified for financial support from acsis must: serve disadvantaged communities within South Africa have youth / young adults and women as their main beneficiaries demonstrate the possibility for sustainability allow for employee involvement ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are incorporated for effective impact measurement be implemented by organisations that are registered as Non Profit Organisations with the Department of Social Development s NPO Directorate and have Section 18(A) tax exemption status be implemented by organisations that have been in existence for a minimum of one year acsis will not offer financial support to: profit-making organisations and companies religious organisations for sectarian activities political parties or groups with partisan political affiliations labour unions conferences organisations that have been in existence for less than one year

page 5 of 8 organisations that are not registered as Non Profit Organisations with the Department of Social Development s NPO Directorate organisations that do not have Section 18(A) tax exemption status CSI budget The annual CSI budget will be calculated according to a minimum of 2% of net profit after tax in that financial year. As mentioned in paragraph five above, the majority of funding will be allocated to the selected flagship projects with the balance allocated to the non-flagship projects. The budget will run from 1 April to the end of March each year. Project application submissions will only be received and considered from January to April of each year. employee involvement acsis realises the value of involving employees in its CSI activities and as such will endeavour to develop and implement an employee participation programme. This programme will aim to holistically address the needs of the employees while achieving acsis corporate objectives. Employees will be invited to submit projects within the identified focus areas for consideration for funding. They will also have the opportunity to provide input into the final projects under consideration by the acsis Foundation (see decision-making structure in point nine below). Once the final projects are selected, employees will be encouraged to get involved in these projects by volunteering their time, making additional financial contributions and donations in kind. The volunteer and other needs of projects that acsis is supporting will be identified and communicated to employees to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities available for engagement. decision-making structure, roles and responsibilities The acsis foundation has been established to administer acsis CSI budget. The majority, at least, of the trustees of the acsis foundation are all employees of acsis. The acsis Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation. The acsis foundation will ensure that a co-ordinated, coherent and focused social investment strategy is implemented. Specifically, the acsis Foundation will be responsible for: selecting and approving projects for investment identifying measurable project outputs and objectives ensuring that the objectives of the CSI programme are met

page 6 of 8 The CSI programme will be managed by the board of trustees of the acsis Foundation. The board of trustees will appoint one or more co-ordinators, from amongst themselves, who will be responsible for: sourcing and initial screening of projects proposing projects to the board of trustees of the acsis Foundation monitoring the effectiveness of funded projects and reporting to the board of trustees preparing monthly CSI reports for the Head of Marketing of acsis preparing quarterly CSI reports for presentation to the board of trustees and the CEO of acsis visiting flagship projects together with, at least, one member of the board of trustees visiting non-flagship projects and/or selecting one trustee to visit the projects co-ordinating the implementation of an effective internal CSI communication plan within acsis co-ordinating the implementation of an effective external acsis communication plan together with the Head of Marketing of acsis co-ordinating the development and production of a CSI annual acsis report together with the Head of Marketing of acsis evaluation and feedback An effective evaluation and impact analysis process will be developed and implemented and will apply to all funded projects (except for once-off ad hoc donations). The monitoring and evaluation process of each the projects will be incorporated into the grant agreements, which will define the framework for periodic evaluation as well as the key deliverables against which the success of the project will be measured. acsis will only consider projects that agree to monitor and evaluate their projects according to mutually identified outcomes. Annual / end of contract evaluations will be conducted by an external service provider where a full impact analysis will be undertaken. The extent of this evaluation will be determined according to the size of the grant made and will seek to determine the nature and scope of the developmental impact made that can be attributed to the acsis contribution as well as the PR value that has been generated for the company. communication The CSI communication plan will be developed and implemented in order to communicate information both internally and externally around acsis CSI activities and successes. The aim of the communication plan is to enhance the company s reputation for good corporate citizenship and ensure that staff, shareholders, potential partners and all relevant stakeholders are kept informed. internal communications The internal communication plan will be the shared responsibility of the CSI coordinator(s) and the Head of Marketing of acsis. The CSI co-ordinator(s) will be responsible for the dissemination of relevant information through the following channels:

page 7 of 8 emailing information about selected projects and project volunteer opportunities to acsis employees delivering quarterly project feedback presentations at the quarterly acsis staff meetings providing project feedback at the acsis department head meetings external communication The external communication plan will also be the shared responsibility of the CSI coordinator(s) and the Head of Marketing of acsis. Relevant information will be communicated externally through the following channels: the CSI section of acsis website the acsis annual CSI report acsis client newsletters sent out every second month the acsis PR programme including press releases and media liaison

page 8 of 8 effective date: This policy is effective from 1 April 2008. date reviewed: date approved: approved by: reviewing authority: