🔒Corporate Social Responsibility: Maine businesses aligning purpose with practice

The way people live their lives and the causes they support shape not only personal decisions but business practices as well. Through corporate social responsibility, companies intentionally develop policies that give back to the community through environmental, ethical, philanthropic, and economic initiatives. For Maine businesses, corporate social responsibility is not simply a buzzword. It reflects a deliberate commitment to giving back in meaningful, multifaceted ways. Corporate social responsibility also delivers tangible business benefits, including greater customer loyalty and enhanced brand recognition. A 2021 Harvard Business School analysis found that 77% of consumers are motivated to buy from companies committed to making the world a better place, while 73% of inv

estors say efforts to improve the environment and society influence their investment decisions.

Serving coffee with a conscience

Since its founding in 1994, Coffee by Design in Portland has served globally sourced coffee while actively supporting causes that impact both local neighbors and farming partners in Africa. The company’s commitment to arts and culture, sustainability, and economic justice stems from intentional daily choices that reflect their mission and values. For Mary Allen Lindemann, Coffee by Design’s owner and chief creative director, the approach to corporate social responsibility centers on three pillars: people, planet and profit. “People first. The planet, obviously how we treat the environment is important, and that we are a for-profit entity, but how we make our money and how we choose to invest it and not spend it, but invest in what we feel makes a difference,” Lindemann explains. These priorities, established from day one, have led to tangible initiatives. Since 1998, Coffee by Design’s Rebel Blend Grants have given over $100,000 to support local artists. The funding is made possible by the company donating one dollar for every pound of Rebel Blend coffee sold or brewed at its coffeehouses. Lindemann believes that by lowering barriers to arts and culture, people are better able to understand one another and appreciate different perspectives. That global mindset is also reflected in how Coffee by Design works with its farming partners, particularly in Africa. Farmers in Rwanda told Lindemann about the challenges of preparing for their next crop amid higher interest rates and limited access to capital. To help address the issue, Coffee by Design offered to pay one-third of its sales agreement upfront. The risk paid off with a successful crop. The farmers were able to purchase livestock and secure better health insurance, improving their quality of life. Coffee by Design has repeated this practice for three consecutive years and hopes to eventually document the economic ripple effect in a formal case study. “With my product the choices I make are really important. People talk a lot about climate change. As farmers have shared with me, it really is about economic justice first. We have to be willing to pay them a price so that they can afford to not just survive but thrive and they can invest that into new ideas that can combat climate change,” Lindemann says. One misconception some businesses hold is that it costs more to run a socially conscious company. According to Lindemann, the opposite is often true. Authentic alignment with company values builds customer loyalty and drives sales, while strong staff loyalty improves retention and reduces costly turnover. Whether down the street in Portland or a world away in Africa, Coffee by Design leads with intentionality. Lindemann advises companies of all sizes and backgrounds to write down their mission and vision as a “north star” to guide decisions in both good times and challenging moments. “I was raised to those who much is given, much is to be expected. How can I build it if I don’t invest and take care of the people in my community, that only Coffee by Design succeeds, but the community does not thrive. That doesn’t make sense to me,” she says. “I think that we all need to be working together as a community to raise one another up. And what has come out of it is incredible customer loyalty. People say they can count on us.”

Giving back where it matters most

Norway Savings Bank’s focus on volunteerism and philanthropy is central to its commitment to giving back. In addition to donations and sponsorships that support local charities, the bank provides employees with eight hours of paid volunteer time off, allowing staff to assist organizations of their choosing. Each year, Norway Savings donates to some 400 nonprofits spanning a wide range of missions. From business-focused groups such as SCORE Maine and social service providers like Crosswalk Community Center to environmental organizations including Loon Echo Land Trust, the bank demonstrates its values through the breadth of its support. Norway Savings also provides financial assistance to the Center for Grieving Children in Portland and produced a series of videos the organization uses to recruit facilitators who support caregivers, bereaved parents, widowers, and others. This work helps ensure that those experiencing loss can find meaningful support and understanding during life’s most difficult moments.

“Trying to go the extra mile to help groups and organizations making a real impact is so gratifying, and NSB looks for opportunities to extend that support when we’re able,” says Dan Walsh, the bank’s president and CEO. (Dan Walsh and Margo Walsh are not related.) Corporate social responsibility not only deepens Norway Savings’ relationships with community partners but also delivers measurable business value, including heightened brand recognition, stronger talent recruitment, and increased customer loyalty. “Our customers frequently tell us how much they appreciate NSB’s staunch commitment to making Maine and New Hampshire better places to work and live, and almost all of our new team members share that learning and reading about NSB’s dedication to corporate responsibility was part of their reason for joining the bank,” Walsh explains.

Brighter futures through employment

The Portland-based staffing agency MaineWorks was founded by Margo Walsh (no relation to Dan Walsh) in 2011 to help marginalized individuals secure employment. As a certified B Corp, MaineWorks operates as a for-profit company with a measurable social and environmental mission, guided by standards established by the nonprofit B Lab.

After an established career as a recruiter, Walsh launched MaineWorks and quickly recognized a major barrier in the labor market: many employers were unwilling to hire individuals with felony records. As a result, this population was often left vulnerable to unstable day labor work that frequently led to continued cycles of unemployment and recidivism. “I started a company and said, I will only hire felons to take the social premise and dump it upside down,” Walsh says. Through partnerships with roughly a dozen construction firms across southern Maine, including Wright-Ryan, AlliedCook, Consigli, PC, Sheridan and Zachau, MaineWorks connects marginalized workers with meaningful and reliable employment opportunities that can be life-changing. The average MaineWorks employee earns about $20 per hour, well above the national minimum wage. Last year, MaineWorks hired 192 individuals. Of those who remained employed for at least two consecutive weeks, 76% converted to full-time employment, a significant achievement for a population that often faces workforce stigma. “The people that we employ would have otherwise been unemployed. We have taken tax burden and turned them into a taxpayer. Not only is there a societal ROI, but from a corporate ROI, we have great success,” Walsh says. “One of the best indicators for ROI is that many of our people actually turn around and hire our people. So, it’s a continuation then of favorable effective employment.” Beyond MaineWorks’ core staffing model, Walsh and her sister, Elaine, also launched the United Recovery Fund, a nonprofit that helps remove additional barriers to employment. By raising funds to support transportation, housing assistance, health services, work clothing, food, and other essentials, the organization helps position MaineWorks employees for long-term success. While MaineWorks’ mission is clearly focused on expanding employment access for marginalized populations, the company is equally intentional about internal employee development, demonstrating the same level of care within its organization as it does in the community. “I think corporate social responsibility is living your values and that your values are evident by the things that you choose to do as a company. I feel like the most common fallacy is that it costs money to be a good employer,” Walsh says. “It doesn’t cost anything to be kind to your employees. It doesn’t cost anything to include your employees in meetings for educational opportunities. And it doesn’t cost anything to promote people and advocate for people.”