Social responsibility: The network of corporate and non-governmental organisations of the Gheorgheni Basin
Botond Dániel - István Elekes - Péter Gál-Pál
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between corporate and civil society networks through the lenses of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate volunteering, using the Gheorgheni Region in Szeklerland for the case study. The research focuses on the collaboration of a regional meat processing company and local civil society organizations. The methodological framework combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, including interviews, document analysis, and data evaluation. The study maps the company's CSR practices, its sponsorship activities, and its connections to civil organizations engaged in the Fuss NEKI! Gyergyó community fundraising program. The findings reveal that the company's CSR activities are structured yet not formalized, they are guided by value-based orientation, local sensitivity, and PR goals. Corporate volunteering manifests in several forms (organized actions, individual involvement), although skill-based volunteering is still underdeveloped. Most civil society organizations do not maintain long-term strategic relationships with corporate actors; however, a few exemplary partnership models can be identified. The company's practices are interpreted using theoretical models, which help understand the local ecosystem of CSR and volunteering.
Keywords: corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate volunteering, mid-sized enterprises, civil society organizations, sponsorship, community fundraising program, case study, Gheorgheni Region