Corporate procurement is fast becoming ground zero for companies committed to having a positive impact in the world through social change.

Consider Potluck Café Society, a Vancouver-based social enterprise that provides catering services to SAP’s local offices. In addition to bringing approximately 30,000 nutritious meals each year to low-income people, Executive Director and General Manager Naved Noorani estimates that the organization has contributed approximately $4 million to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to date through its employee payroll.

“People struggle living from one paycheck to the next in a world that doesn’t go viral on social media or make headlines anywhere,” Noorani said. “We are their family, and we also have to be competitive so we can continue expanding our impact. It’s because SAP gets catering from us that we can provide our social programs to the community.”