Helping those who got us here.

Perhaps the single, most important thing to consider in a McDonald's career is the role you can play in the community. Because your growth, your learning – your very advancement – are all fueled by the success of your restaurant.

And that's where the community comes in. The people you know, meet, serve, hire and greet are all part of it. Over the years, millions of people have "run out" to McDonald's because it's a trusted name with proven service. And giving back to the community is our way of returning that loyalty.

We take our social responsibilities as seriously as we take our success. Here's how we do it.

Community Focus

How do we support the communities we serve? Where do we begin? To promote social awareness, we have many global initiatives and examples of educational collaborations and partnerships. We have many clean-up efforts around the world each year with neighborhood beautification efforts. Fundraisers keep children's programs like Ronald McDonald house and others going strong. Even the very operation of a single restaurant can fuel the economy of a local community. We're simply a big part of our neighborhoods. And we want our impact to be the same. Get more details on our community efforts.

Responsible Purchasing

On a global scale, the goods we purchase are just a small fraction. But that doesn't mean we can't play a big role. Leading by example, our policies and guidelines strive to make the world a safer, better place. Our Animal Welfare program is a benchmark for animal treatment. We utilize a "farm to counter" food safety system that monitors critical aspects of our processes. Our supplier guidelines and expectations ensure that the vendors we work with are as serious about their commitment to people. Learn more about our purchasing and supplier policies.

Protecting Our Environment

Conserve natural resources. Reduce waste. Keep the planet clean and green. That's our practice. And we vigorously stick to it. It all begins with our "total life cycle" approach to waste, understanding that consuming and recycling go hand-in-hand. We consider the environmental impacts of our products at every stage in their "lives," from the production/harvesting of the raw materials through final disposal. We have a strict Rain Forest policy, and do not permit the use of beef from recently deforested areas. And we recently initiated a program on environmental resource sustainability, providing clear principles and goals on how to preserve the world in which we live. Get more information on our environmental policies.

Expert Opinions

How do we know we're making the best decisions when it comes to social responsibility? Simple – we consult with the experts. Our extensive partnership with expert advisors not only ensures that we're setting the right goals, but that we're doing the right things to reach them. It helps us learn new concepts in philanthropy, food safety, corporate citizenship practices, animal welfare and more. And it also allows us to share our practices and experiences with others. See the full list of our expert advisors.