Corporate Giving Programs and Foundations
Corporate Philanthropy refers to the investments and activities a company voluntarily undertakes to responsibly manage and account for its impact on society. It includes investments of money, donations of products, in-kind services and technical assistance, employee volunteerism, and other business transactions to advance a social cause, issue, or the work of a nonprofit organization. Corporate foundations and corporate giving programs traditionally play a major role in these areas.
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A Colleague's Perspective on Trustee Orientation
External Resource
By Anne H. Morgan
Becoming a trustee of a family foundation can be a complex, confusing, and confounding experience. Suddenly you are thrust into a room full of persons whom you thought you knew, but now they are all in different roles. Your favorite aunt, who has always seemed so demure and self…
A Colleague's Perspective on Mission and Vision Statements
Fundamentals
This perspective offered by William Graustein of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund in 2013 provides useful context on creating your own foundation's mission and vision statements.
When you get down to it, the reason a charitable foundation exists is to change the world or, at least…
Closing Documents Checklist
Sample Document
As you prepare to close out grants, this customizable checklist can help ensure that you've received the appropriate documents from grantees.
Sample Grant Closing Letter
Sample Document
You can send this customizable sample closing letter to grantees upon the conclusion of their grant.
Sample Grant Close-Out Form
Sample Document
This sample grant close-out form can help you wrap up outstanding grants.
Board Member Orientation Materials
Sample Document
This resource outlines the onboarding process for a new board member.
Providing Relief in Times of Disaster - Matching Gifts
Legal Compliance Guidance
Public foundations, community foundations and corporate giving programs may establish a matching gifts program that will match disaster relief gifts made by employees or other donors living in the U.S. or anywhere in the world, provided the grantees are public charities based in the U.S., and gifts…
Providing Relief in Times of Disaster - Direct Corporate Giving
Legal Compliance Guidance
Grants to Public Charities from a Corporate Giving Program
Businesses can make disaster relief grants directly from the corporation, or from its corporate giving program, to any section 501(c)(3)public charity. An added plus is that such gifts are eligible as charitable deductions for the…
The Savvy CEO
Publication
The role of the foundation CEO is pivotal to the success of a foundation’s goals. Even at foundations without staff, the tasks of the CEO do not disappear, but rather are carried out by board members. In this publication, we explore some of the critical issues and challenges that foundation CEOs…
Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy
Publication
While cross-border philanthropy has much in common with domestic giving within a country, it also differs in significant and challenging ways. Language differences, communication across vast distances, unfamiliar cultural values and perspectives, multiple legal systems, and disparate accounting…
International Corporate Giving
Legal Compliance Guidance, Fundamentals
This brief provides practical advice on setting strategy, ensuring on-the-ground presence, and selecting partners for U.S.-based companies with foundations and/or giving programs that are either venturing into the international giving arena or seeking to enhance their current programs. The last…
Sample Foreign Grant Expenditure Responsibility Letter
Sample Document
Sample foreign grant expenditure responsibility letter.
This sample document is being provided for informational purposes and is not to be shared without the permission of the Council on Foundations. Use of the sample document does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the information…
First 100 Days of the Chief Corporate Giving Officer Advice from the Field
Fundamentals
The First 100 Days is not intended to be a comprehensive job description or in-depth exposé on the giving officer’s career; rather, it will help you, as a novice in this role, prioritize your activities during the early stages of your transition.
First 100 Days of the Community Relations Manager: Advice from the Field
Fundamentals
During the summer of 2004, we interviewed several corporate community relations managers to gather advice for new staff in similar positions. Their comments are summarized here, and direct quotes appear in italics. While First 100 Days is not a detailed job description, it will provide novice…