Corporate spending patterns may change as pandemic chaos hits CSR hard

Talks with key executives in listed firms reveal diversion from existing plans such as supporting cancer hospitals, towards giving all the money under their budget to help deal with pandemic

Companies have been finding it harder to execute their regular charitable corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects amid the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.

Some have had to pause project execution. Others have altered plans to account for the pandemic to the exclusion of priorities in previous years.  Conversations with those who advise on such matters as well as key executives in listed companies show that there has been a shift away from existing plans such as supporting cancer hospitals, towards giving all the money under their budget to help deal with the pandemic. This is for companies who are still able to