Corporate Philanthropy Update - November 2019

It’s hard to believe that in just a few weeks we’ll be bringing in a New Year. If we consider the Internal Revenue Act of 1935 as the start of corporate philanthropy – a time when companies were permitted to deduct 5% of pretax earnings for charitable gifts, it could be concluded that corporations have influenced the philanthropic sector for more than 84 years.

Throughout this time, we have professionalized corporate philanthropy as a  function within companies, established matching gift programs, expanded employee volunteerism and shifted to a more strategic approach, where giving is aligned with business. Today, we are leading corporate social responsibility initiatives and leveraging our investments to drive systemic change in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

We continue to serve as active funders and partners with nonprofit organizations as well as government and civil society in finding new ways to address the social and environmental challenges within our communities. As we reflect on how far we’ve come, it’s only fitting that we continue to imagine a future where companies play an instrumental role in giving for years to come.

As you prepare for 2020, below are a few questions to ponder….

• What type of philanthropic impact would you like your company to make throughout your geographic footprint within the next 5 years?
• What innovative practices, partnerships and/or initiatives can you lead, foster or fund?
• Looking back on this year, what were your team’s greatest accomplishments? How can those accomplishments serve as building blocks for the outcomes you would like to see in 2020, 2025 and beyond?
• Who can help you reach your goals? What funders do you need to connect with, what relationships do you need to foster and what organizations can help you reach to your anticipated outcome?
• Where can you leverage resources to make an even larger impact in the places and spaces you want to support?

If the Council can connect you to funders with similar interests or create a peer learning opportunity to help expand your team’s knowledge and growth, let us know. We are committed to connecting and convening as we all work to advance greater good.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Mason
Lead Strategist, Corporate Philanthropy

Join the Corporate Advisory Group
Call for 2020 Nominations

The Council is seeking nominations for new members to join the 2020 Corporate Advisory Group. The Advisory Group meets three times per year and works in partnership with Council staff to provide leadership to the field and guide programming and services relevant to corporate funders.

Leaders who are committed to giving voice to the needs of corporate philanthropy and supporting members’ efforts to maintain program excellence in their respective enterprises are strongly encouraged to apply.

To submit a nomination for yourself or another Council member, contact
Lindsay Mason at Lindsay.Mason@cof.org.

More information will be shared upon request.
Nominations should be received no later than December 16, 2019.

Philanthropy’s Response in the Aftermath of Mass Shootings

Following a growing number of requests from members interested in learning how foundations were supporting communities in the aftermath of mass shootings, the Council convened a small peer exchange between foundation leaders last month. Judy Belk, President of California Wellness, Mark Brewer, President of the Central Florida Foundation and Kathleen McLaughlin, President of the Walmart Foundation led the discussion by sharing insights, lessons learned and recommendations from their experiences.

Below is a list of resources, references and templates shared with participants. These are great tools for organizations that are establishing plans to better prepare for and quickly respond to tragedy.

Lessons Learned & Considerations

• The One Fund Boston: Lessons for Leaders | Initiatives on Cities, Boston University
• Disaster Relief: The Growing Role of CSR Teams | Shared by Florida Blue Foundation
• When A Tragedy Hits, A Community Responds: Key Learnings in the Aftermath of Umpqua Community College shootings | Shared by The Ford Family Foundation 

Sample Documents & Victim Funds  

• Sample Victims Fund Executive Order |Shared by Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF)
• Sample Agreement: Grantor to Grantee Providing Services to Victims |Shared by VCCF
• Sample Fund Disbursements Protocol: The Conejo Valley Victims Fund |Shared by VCCF
• OneOrlando Fund
• Conejo Valley Victims Fund

We launched a new membership model and want to make sure you HAVE ALL THE DETAILS.

Join us for a brief call, set up exclusively for corporate members. Hear from the Council’s membership team as they provide an overview of our new approach and key insights about what this new model means for your organization. We’ll also be taking live questions from the call and hope to hear from you.  

Wednesday, December 11, 2019 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET

To learn more about the Council’s membership or calculate your 2020 member contribution, visit  www.cof.org/membership.

The Philanthropy Framework  via Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Being the Change: 12 Ways Foundations Are Transforming Themselves to Transform Their Impact via FSG

Disaster Philanthropy Practices: Preparing for a Future of More Varied, More Intense, and More Frequent Disasters via The Conference Board

The Trim Tab of Corporate Purpose: How to Encourage Giving in Your Organization via Forbes

How CSR Managers Can Inspire Other Leaders to Act on Sustainability via Harvard Business Review