What is The CRO?
The corporate membership platform for Corporate Responsibility Officers (CROs) that boosts impact of corporate responsibility programs via its popular media vehicles—CRO Magazine, TheCRO.com website, bi-weekly e-newsletters, four annual CRO Conferences, frequent webcasts and podcasts, and special TV and radio programs. CRO members have many job functions and titles including: General Counsel, Compliance, Ethics, HR, Audit, Environment, Sustainability, Philanthropy, Communications, Investor Relations, CSR, SRI, Chairman, CEO, and CFO. There are three types of CRO members: corporate practitioners, non-governmental organizations(NGOs)/government/academic, and service providers.

What does membership cost?
The CRO is the most cost-effective corporate membership of any of the 50+ membership organizations serving the $31.7 billion CRO industry. At $1,995 for corporate practitioners; $995 for non-profits, NGOs, government, academic; and $5,995 for professional service providers, CRO members get more value than from organization memberships priced at as much as 10 times the cost. For starters, CRO members get 4 full passes to 3 CRO Conferences per year, the retail value of which is $1,245 per pass per conference. To that strong value, add the individual membership to the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG), 2 subscriptions to TheCRO.com’s premium online content, searchable streaming video of past CRO conference keynotes and panel presentations, free access to CRO webcasts and podcasts, and 2 CRO Magazine subscriptions. If you want to see the analysis in black and white, ask your CRO membership representative for a side-by-side cost/value-comparison.

What does The CRO do for members?
Via its print and electronic media and conferences, The CRO enhances member organizations’ ability to compete by helping leaders and stakeholders understand the tools, best practices and relationships of the modern corporate responsibility industry. Specifically, The CRO gives:

• Compliance, legal, environmental, HR and finance pros greater organizational visibility;
• Investor relations, CSR and communications staff greater stakeholder awareness;
• Academics, NGOs and regulators greater corporate exposure;
• Corporate practitioners access to service providers.

The CRO’s media properties are uniquely suited to deliver magnificent value to members.

• CRO Magazine (incorporating Business Ethics Magazine), read by over 20,000 corporate and non-profit leaders, covers the field and features such as the Business Ethics 100 Best Corporate Citizens list, the Business Ethics Awards and exclusive CRO Conference coverage.
• The one-day CRO Conferences feature world-class speakers and networking opportunities.
• TheCRO.com website features the only Resource Guide listing over 500 Corporate Responsibility service providers in 11 categories (with enhanced listings for members only), the 100 Best Corporate Citizens listings and methodology, and full features only found online.
• The CRO’s bi-weekly e-newsletters offer news and case studies to keep you current.
• The CRO’s regular webcasts and podcasts feature thought leaders.

What are The CRO member benefits?
Membership in The CRO entitles 2 individual staff members of the Corporate Member to all benefits during the year, including:

• 4 CRO Conference passes to all CRO Conferences during the year. Note: Individual CRO Conference admissions have a retail price of $1,245 each.
• 4 subscriptions to The CRO.com member-only content and online tools, including an individual online subscription to the content of the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG.org) and searchable streaming video of past CRO conference keynotes and panel presentations.
• 4 subscriptions to CRO Magazine
• Free access to TheCRO.com webcasts and podcasts

Who’s a member?
Since starting membership enrollment August 1, 2006, The CRO has generated corporate members at a record pace— over 150 corporate members as of January 1, 2009 CRO Conference. A partial list of early adopters includes:
Corporate practitioners Amtrak, Avery Dennison, Avon, Baldor Electric, British Telecom, Darden Restaurants, Dell, Eastman Chemical, Eaton, Ecolab, FedEx, Gap, Hershey, IBM, Intel, Interface, KPMG, Kimberly Clark, Mattel, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Sara Lee, Starbucks and Washington Mutual; service providers Cone Inc., LRN, OfficeMax, OPI Global, Phillips Van Heusen, Rideau Recognition, SAP, and Baker & McKenzie, Hogan & Hartson; and non-profit influencers Arizona State University, Baylor University, Columbia University, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Harvard University, Net Impact, OCEG, Stanford University, and UCLA.

How can I apply for membership?
If you are not yet a member, but are interested in applying, please fill out our brief membership application form. One of our membership directors will contact you within a day to complete the application.