5 Ways You Can Simplify Reporting With a CSR Data Collection Tool

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs have become pillars of many companies’ brands in the 21st century. The added attention around these and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives also means that businesses are under increased pressure to execute impactful campaigns—and show the data behind those impacts.

Because CSR has become so data-heavy, companies can benefit from becoming more efficient in their data reporting. To that end, a CSR data collection tool can help your staff track important information and present it to stakeholders, enabling continued program funding. Let’s take a closer look.

Table of Contents:

• The State of CSR in 2026
• What is CSR Data?
• Why Does CSR Data Matter to Companies?
• 5 Ways a CSR Data Collection Tool Simplifies Reporting
• Achieve More with Mobile-Optimized CSR Data Collection Tools from Groundswell

The State of CSR in 2026

A widespread belief among managers and executives is that CSR budgets in 2026 will stay flat or even decline. Meanwhile, consumers still demand socially conscious programs from companies. Employees, who have become less engaged at work over the past 10 years, still want to work for companies that make a positive impact on their communities.

Essentially, now and in the near future, CSR professionals need to learn to do more with less. Additionally, they must find ways to make data reporting more efficient without sacrificing quality. 

How can companies and their CSR representatives reconcile these two competing interests? The right CSR data analytics technology is perhaps the most essential part. 

What is CSR Data?

CSR data refers to statistics that illustrate the impact of a company’s CSR programs on internal and external stakeholders. It shows how well specific initiatives, like employee volunteering, donation matching, and corporate grants, achieve businesses’ intended goals. Just as importantly, it can show exactly where CSR programs fall short.

Commonly reported CSR data includes:

• Amount of money raised by employees, companies, and specific departments within a company.
• The percentage of employees who participate in particular CSR programs. 
• The number of hours employees have logged volunteering for certain causes.
• Details about corporate grants, such as the duration of the average lifecycle or the total amount of disbursed funds.
• Figures related to employee assistance funds (EAFs).

Why Does CSR Data Matter to Companies?

CSR data can be useful to nearly anyone in a company, but the C-suite and investors often seek it to ensure that program-related expenses are worth the investment. For instance, spending $30,000 per year on CSR equipment, while annual employee and corporate donations total only $50,000, may indicate that a company needs to reevaluate its CSR strategies. 

Without data, businesses may decide to eliminate or scale back their CSR programs—an understandable but misguided response, in Groundswell’s opinion.

5 Ways a CSR Data Collection Tool Simplifies Reporting

CSR representatives and employees who are already stretched thin may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of collecting comprehensive CSR data. The key is to adopt the right CSR tools, which typically prioritize data collection capabilities and features.

Here are five important ways modern CSR technologies can simplify your life while fulfilling your data reporting obligations.

1. Data collection happens immediately, and not after the fact

One of the most dreaded tasks for companies’ internal CSR representatives is having to compile and organize mountains of raw data after volunteering events, as if executing the programs isn’t cumbersome enough. 

Tracking down emails, filling out spreadsheets, following up with attendees—there’s a better way to collect important data during events by having a mobile-ready CSR app that logs information in real time. Intuitive platforms that employees can easily use on their own empower them to report data on their own and lift burdens from event organizers.

2. Departments can standardize the types of data and information to be collected

CSR representatives who oversee programs across multiple locations and departments sometimes struggle to get everyone to report on the same datasets. Even if everyone’s on the same page related to the types of data companies want collected, there’s no guarantee that employees track data in the exact same way. In short, CSR executives may have difficulties getting accurate data.

If everyone uses the same platform for their CSR programs and data, companies can count on standardized, unified data. Remote workers operate the same way as in-office workers. Automated and simple data collection cuts down on human error. With robust software, businesses and organizations can even create tailored data dashboards so they get the information they need.

3. Companies can eliminate data silos that hamper inter-departmental collaboration

Data silos and isolation continue to plague many companies. It’s a stubbornly persistent hurdle to compiling CSR impact reports that are increasingly expected of modern companies. 

A fully integrated CSR app that allows quick and easy access to important data can break down information silos, enabling workers to operate off a single source of truth. No more time-consuming emails and messages seeking loose ends from other departments. 

4. Automated, standardized reporting gets sent to company personnel without manual efforts

Employees everywhere are increasingly being asked to accomplish more tasks with fewer resources. Creating a new CSR program and getting it off the ground might just sound like more work to most of your employees, even those who aren’t accountable for its success.

The good news is that CSR programs don’t automatically translate into a ton more work for everybody. Versatile, mobile-optimized software that automates every possible task can take a lot off your plate. 

Groundswell, for instance, offers pre-built reporting dashboards with automated out-of-the-box capabilities. If you can’t afford for your company’s learning curve to be excessively steep when onboarding new CSR software, consider a purpose-built platform instead.

5. Increased accessibility = increased participation

A solid majority of global web traffic now originates from mobile devices. Around 22% of the U.S. workforce works remotely. Participation in CSR programs in 2026 should prioritize mobile readiness, because companies have an obligation to meet their employees where they are – whether that’s the office, the home, or the factory floor.

Achieve More with Mobile-Optimized CSR Data Collection Tools from Groundswell

A common misconception is that comprehensive CSR software with mobile-optimized features must come with a price tag only large companies can pay. Not only is that untrue, but it cuts against everything Groundswell stands for.

Our purpose is to provide a robust, accessible, and affordable CSR platform for companies and organizations of all sizes. Because CSR is no longer an optional program for most companies, executing such initiatives should not be out of reach for anyone.

With our five-star-rated app, your employees can take part in your:

• Donation matching programs
• Employee volunteering events
• Campaigns and fundraisers
• Employee assistance funds (EAFs)

Schedule your personalized demo to see how Groundswell can help you manage a successful and impactful CSR program.