Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a pillar of business strategy in Greece, with 78% of companies considering social impact a primary management priority and 64% claiming to have a fully developed and documented CSR strategy.
This is revealed by an extensive survey conducted by Deloitte on Greek businesses, aiming to map out CSR strategies and their social impact.
The research, which took place from July to October 2025, found that the vision of senior management and social expectations play a decisive role in shaping CSR strategy (61% and 61%, respectively). Additionally, enhancing corporate image acts as a complementary lever (58%).
Organizational Structures and CSR Budgets
At an organizational level, 39% of businesses have a dedicated CSR team, while 47% assign CSR tasks to roles with broader responsibilities. CSR budgets show significant variation: 36% of companies invest up to 50,000, 36% between 50,001200,000, and 28% over 200,000 annually. Notably, most companies (53%) expect an increase in their CSR budgets in the coming years, reflecting the growing recognition of the strategic importance of CSR.
Social Priorities and Areas of Action
CSR initiatives of companies primarily focus on the environment (75%) and education (72%), followed by disaster relief (50%), inclusion and diversity (47%), in-kind donations (47%), and support for vulnerable populations (36%). Companies with higher budgets are able to implement multifaceted initiatives, while others focus on more targeted areas.
Collaborations and Ecosystem
Collaboration is a crucial condition for achieving meaningful social impact. Nearly 70% of businesses collaborate with NGOs and non-profit organizations, while over 50% work with academic institutions. Universities and other businesses also serve as regular partners, strengthening the connection between CSR activities and real social needs.
Strategic Direction & Measuring Social Impact
Today, most companies (53%) rely on collaborations with NGOs to identify and prioritize social needs, while about 15% of businesses do not have a structured process for identifying these needs, often leading to fragmented or less targeted initiatives.
Despite the strategic importance of CSR, measuring social impact remains limited. Only 22% of companies have standardized monitoring procedures, and less than 30% apply internationally accepted methodologies like Social Return on Investment (SROI). It is notable that nearly 40% of companies do not use any structured methodology for evaluation.
However, companies that set specific and measurable CSR goals are 50% more likely to publish performance reports and systematically communicate their results.
7 in 10 Lack Deep Understanding of CSR Benefits
The most significant challenge identified in the research is not a lack of resources but limited internal knowledge. Specifically, 71% of those who identified barriers attributed them not to financial constraints but to the need for a deeper understanding of the strategic benefits of CSR and a shift toward more mature and measurable practices.
Commenting on the release of the report, Eri Nika, Principal, Strategy & Transactions, Deloitte Greece, noted: “The research shows that CSR in Greece has evolved from fragmented initiatives to more mature strategies, with an increasing connection between social impact and business value. At the same time, the need for measurable indicators, standardized methodologies, and meaningful partnerships is more pressing than ever. It is encouraging that businesses are now seeking more guidanceand this presents an opportunity to collectively enhance the quality and sustainability of social contributions in Greece.”
