Corporate Social Investing

12Step 9.Building theManagement Team forSocial Investing

The Home Depot—the ubiquitous chain of building supply and home improvement stores—says that it directs about 45 percent of its philanthropy budget to “affordable housing” projects. This is a company that has its corporate contributions marching in step with its main business mission. What’s more, Home Depot has both a CEO and a president who make no bones about the firm’s concern for corporate social responsibility. Although this company may not have adopted all ten management principles, it has embraced many of the model’s components.

When the Home Depot opens one of its warehouse-sized stores in a new market, the business quickly hoists its community-relations colors. The company provides ...