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CORPORATE GIVING - GOOD FOR EVERYONE

Benefits of corporate giving:

	Healthier, more livable and economically stronger communities, and strong vibrant communities are good for people and businesses.
	Improved customer loyalty.
	Competitive advantage in attracting and retaining employees.
	Leadership and development opportunities for employees.
	Enhanced reputation and standing in the community.
	Increased positive name recognition and brand awareness.
	New and enhanced relationships with key community leaders and officials.
	Beneficial business-to-business relationships with nonprofits.
	A reservoir of goodwill within the community.

CORPORATE GIVING OPTIONS

If you own a family business or are an officer of a corporation, you may want to consider one of the following options for your company’s charitable giving:

Corporate Giving Program

Many corporations operate an annual giving program to make charitable grants, funded as part of their annual operating budgets. Business owners can blend their family business with family philanthropy by channeling their charitable support through their family corporation(s). A corporate giving program has no independent endowment, and its budget is typically administered by corporate staff and directed by the CEO or an advisory committee of management staff members. A corporate giving program is not subject to the rules and regulations governing private corporate foundations.

Corporate Foundation

A company can create a corporate foundation as an independent, tax-exempt private foundation. A corporate foundation is usually started with a single gift that can become the endowment, to which the company can add future contributions as it wishes. The foundation's officers are usually the company’s owners and key executives, although leaders from headquarters communities are sometimes included. At some companies, employee committees make giving recommendations about projects they believe are worthy of support. The corporate foundation is subject to the same rules and regulations applicable to other private foundations.

Corporate Fund

Companies can create their own donor advised funds at a community foundation of their choosing.

Employee Matching & Non-Cash Giving

In addition to awarding cash grants to charity, companies often offer to match their employees’ gifts of cash and volunteer time to nonprofit organizations. Many companies assist and encourage their employees to give by organizing workplace giving programs (also known as "federated funds") and by facilitating payroll deductions for employees' charitable gifts. Companies sometimes match gifts that their employees make through workplace giving programs.

Some companies also organize employee workplace volunteer efforts, donate "in-kind" gifts of their products, or offer their services to charities on a free "pro bono" basis.

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL CORPORATE GIVING

There are four key ingredients to successful corporate philanthropy:

	Encourage employee participation.
	Manage the process. Have a rationale for what you are doing, develop guidelines and objectives, budget your giving and stay focused.
	Keep top management involved. The single most important ingredient for starting a corporate giving program is a strong value and support for corporate giving from top management.
	Just do it!

Source: MinnesotaGiving.org.

RESOURCES

Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance

Alabama Giving Project

Baltimore Giving Project

Connecticut Giving Project

Promotion of Philanthropy - A South Florida Collaboration

Louisiana Philanthropy Initiative

Minnesota Giving

Giving New England

Northwest Giving Project

Washington (D.C.) Regional Association of Grantmakers

New Ventures in Philanthropy

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