Getting Better at Giving Back: How to Design a More Meaningful CSR Experience

When prospective attendees decide whether to travel for a meeting, learning and networking aren’t the only key motivating factors for participation. Many view the event as a chance to leave a place better than they found it. With the right approach, they return home with a bigger sense of what they can do to shape a better future and a deeper appreciation for the local community. 

If you’re reevaluating your meeting’s CSR programming, consider these key considerations from some of the dedicated non-profit leaders in a city where giving back is ingrained in the DNA: Portland, Oregon. 

Make CSR Part of the Packing List

The “Know Before You Go” email message can include more than logistical details. For organizations that want to host donation drives, it’s a prime opportunity to remind attendees about what they can bring to make a difference. For example, when the B2B events company Emerald held its ACE Conference at the Oregon Convention Center in 2024, the company collected more than 600 pairs of socks for a local shelter. Beth Miranda, CMP, director of convention services at Travel Portland, explained that socks checked an essential box: They’re easy to fit in a suitcase. 

“You have to meet attendees where they are and remove as many barriers to participation as possible,” Miranda said. “Selecting items that are easy to travel with makes a difference.”

Choose a Cause That Aligns With the City’s Spirit

Portland is a place for literary lovers. Whether shopping at more than 60 independent bookstores throughout the city or attending a reading at the annual Portland Book Festival every November, the entire community celebrates the power of storytelling. Portland-based nonprofit SMART Reading gives attendees a chance to be part of this celebration and share a deep appreciation of books with young Portlanders through its Children's Book Bank. The organization aims to help children who may not have access to books at home fill their shelves with pre-loved reading materials, partnering with every Head Start preschool in the city to give each child a personalized book bundle.

Planners can collaborate to organize book cleaning and restoration activities for groups of up to 20. Attendees can bring children’s books from home to donate, too, or pick some up during their trip at locations like Powell’s City of Books — the world’s largest independent bookstore — or the children’s specialty bookstore Green Bean Books in the Alberta Arts District. Even if they don’t bring a donation, their participation alone can empower the next generation with access to inspiring stories. 

Step Outside

As attendees aim to make a positive impact on others, they’re also seeking ways to enhance their own well-being. Portland’s mild climate offers a chance to do both with unique outdoor CSR opportunities that can help participants reconnect with a sense of calm. 

The Portland Fruit Tree Project is one of them, giving attendees from out of town the opportunity to discover the city’s neighborhoods and help underserved residents access the fresh pears, cherries, figs, and other fruits and vegetables that grow in public spaces and yards throughout the city. Bigger groups of up to 100 typically visit dedicated orchard operations, but smaller groups may be lucky enough to participate in a harvest in a resident’s backyard, allowing them to chat with neighbors and gain a genuine appreciation for the community.

“Our work is pretty much the perfect example of Portland,” Heather Keisler Fornes, executive director of the Portland Fruit Tree Project, said. “It's grassroots, community-centered, fun, quirky, and impactful. For people who are able to attend backyard harvests, it's a stellar way to get to see how Portlanders and the surrounding areas live. We love to plant food in our yards and share that food, and we're a really welcoming and kind group of people.”

This welcoming group of people also has a deep love for nature. The city has been named one of the best places to live for outdoor enthusiasts. Meeting planners can arrange programs to care for the urban wilderness with the Forest Park Conservancy. Attendees can help maintain some of the trails in the 5,200-acre park while enjoying stunning views of the Tualatin Mountains. 

Offer Multiple Pathways for CSR Participation 

With packed education and networking schedules, meeting planners often opt to place volunteer opportunities at the beginning of a conference program. While that can be ideal for attendees who want to spend more time with their peers, Miranda said that limiting participation to a singular timeslot can be a roadblock for some participants who may not be able to arrive early. 

“Many opportunities lend themselves to be activated in multiple ways,” Miranda said. For example, Store to Door is a Portland-based non-profit that supports independent living for homebound seniors. Attendees who have room in their schedules can participate in an off-site grocery shopping experience for those seniors, but others with more limited availability can also be part of it. 

“Combine the off-site volunteering with a general food drive to support their Free Food Box Program,” Miranda said. “In addition to providing meals, there’s an opportunity to give recipients a meaningful message of support. Planners can set up a station in the convention center where attendees can write greeting cards to be included with food deliveries. They have created space for all attendees to participate in some way.”

Work With Meeting Venues Focused on Reducing Waste

In some cases, adding a standalone CSR activity may be challenging. The schedule may be too tight, or the group may be too big to arrange a hands-on program. However, every meeting can make a difference by selecting a location that is committed to sustainability.  The Oregon Convention Center (OCC) is one such facility. Its staff regularly works at the Oregon Food Bank and Blanchet House, which serves hot meals to those in need.

In addition to arranging team volunteer events, the venue’s convention and catering leaders work to minimize their footprint and maximize their impact. Last fiscal year, OCC donated approximately 6,720 pounds of surplus food to local food banks and collected nearly 175,000 pounds of food scraps for compost, which was used by local farmers and home gardens.

People aren’t the only ones benefiting from the venue’s efforts, though. Some of the city’s four-legged friends are currently chewing upcycled toys made from old OCC uniforms — just a small fraction of the 32,080 pounds of reusable goods OCC donated to nonprofits last fiscal year. If those dogs could talk, they would likely echo Miranda’s perspective on the pulse of the city. 

“Portlanders are passionate,” she said. “We care about our city and our communities. Actively supporting those communities and uplifting our city is something that comes naturally.”

To better understand how that sense of passion can be incorporated into your next meeting, connect with Travel Portland and discover a unique CSR activity that aligns with your organization’s mission.

This content was created collaboratively by Travel Portland and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.