Top Questions about the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations in 2015, serve as a global blueprint for creating a better, more sustainable future by 2030. With 17 goals covering issues such as poverty, education, health, and climate change, the SDGs aim to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. But what exactly are the SDGs, and how do they impact our everyday lives?

What Are the SDGs?

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, are a set of independent yet interconnected goals designed to create a better future for everyone on the planet. These goals include hundreds of targets and measurement indicators, all aimed at achieving progress by 2030. Created with businesses in mind, the SDGs provide a clear path - sometimes referred to as a "Pathway for Humanity" - for companies to leverage their influence and direct their efforts toward specific global objectives.

When Is the Right Time for My Business to Contribute to the SDGs?

For many businesses, this is a common dilemma. The traditional mindset often suggests giving only when you’ve secured enough for yourself, but this approach can lead to repeatedly postponing contributions—sometimes indefinitely. With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, there’s no better time than now to start contributing. We need all hands on deck!

Your business can support the SDGs at any stage by adopting various methods. Here are some suggestions on when and how to start:

When You’re Building Your Customer Base: In a period focused on hitting targets, adding a purpose beyond sales can motivate you and your team to go further. Consider contributing toward one or more SDGs with every new customer, adding deeper meaning and impact to your business growth.

When Your Business Is Growing (and Starting to Make a Profit): As your business grows and your capacity increases, it's a great time to start giving. By setting goals that go beyond profits, you can bring a sense of purpose to your business and how it contributes to the global community.

When Your Business Is Stable: With stability comes the capacity to explore and implement a variety of approaches to giving. You can engage your customers and team in supporting the SDGs, amplifying your business’s impact even further.

How Do I Know Which Sustainable Development Goal(s) to Support?

A simple and effective approach is to support the SDG(s) that align with your passions. When you give to causes you care about, you're more likely to stay engaged and motivated in your efforts over the long term. Similarly, allowing employees to contribute to the SDGs they're passionate about can have the same positive effect. Here are a few ways to implement this:

1. Set a monthly giving budget for each employee to donate to a non-profit organisation supporting the SDG of their choice.

2. Create employee accounts in B1G1, enabling them to donate to any of the 400+ projects available.

3. Celebrate an employee's birthday by donating to their favorite SDG.

Should I Focus on One, a Few, or All of the SDGs?

This largely depends on your company’s financial capacity and your personal preferences. Many businesses choose to focus on one or a few closely related SDGs that align with their mission or values.

For example, some may opt to support SDGs that promote social and economic benefits to communities, such as:

· SDG 4: Quality Education

· SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

· SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

· SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

· SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

· SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Alternatively, you may decide to support just one SDG that resonates most with you and choose a charitable organisation aligned with that goal.

Of course, if your resources allow, supporting multiple or even all the SDGs is a fantastic way to broaden your impact.

Apart from Contributing to Causes, How Else Can I Support the SDGs?

There are many ways to support the SDGs beyond financial contributions, from reducing energy usage in your office to advocating for sustainable practices. The United Nations offers several ideas on how to get involved, which you can explore here. If you're looking for more inspiration, check out these 12 ways to contribute to the SDGs.

Should I Talk About My Giving?

A common question is whether businesses should openly share their giving activities with clients or take a more modest approach.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, our belief is that most businesses contribute because they genuinely care about making a positive impact. We encourage companies to communicate their motivation to support the SDGs, as this can inspire others to learn and get involved, helping us move closer to achieving the 2030 agenda together.

That said, not every business needs to publicly highlight their giving. Some prefer to keep their activities private, which is perfectly fine. Others choose to share the joy and gratitude of being a giving business with their teams and clients, acknowledging the important roles they play in helping the business grow and create greater impact together.

BONUS: Top 3 Questions About B1G1

1) How Does B1G1 Select the Projects in Its List?

Before charity organisations can list their projects on B1G1, they must first meet the 2-tiered Worthy Cause criteria. Once they meet these requirements, they undergo an application process that involves completing a questionnaire and submitting documents such as their charity registration certificate, annual reports, and audited accounts. All applications are then reviewed by B1G1’s Giving Board, which applies specific criteria to evaluate the organisations and determine their suitability for the B1G1 system.

2) How Does B1G1 Uphold Integrity in the Handling of Donations?

B1G1’s membership model ensures that 100% of the donations from our business members go directly to the selected causes. Our Worthy Cause partners are responsible for using these funds to run their projects and are required to confirm the proper use of funds after each remittance. While donations primarily support the projects, a small portion may be used for administrative purposes necessary to support the projects' operations.

Additionally, B1G1 conducts an annual review of all projects to ensure they are still active and delivering meaningful impacts on the ground.

3) Why Is There a Membership Fee?

The membership system was designed to make B1G1 self-sustaining, covering operational costs while allowing us to develop valuable tools and resources for our members. This structure also supports the growth of our vision and the giving movement.

Importantly, the membership fee enables us to remit 100% of members’ donations directly to their selected projects. This ensures that the full amount of each contribution goes toward making a meaningful impact, allowing our Worthy Cause partners to utilise the full sum for their projects.

The business world is diverse and ever evolving, with new trends and ideas constantly emerging. Today, philanthropy is more accessible to businesses of all sizes and industries. No matter where your company is in its journey, it has the potential to make a difference.

What phase is your business in right now? Is it time to start thinking about giving through your business? Feel free to ask your questions in the comment section below!