What are Some of the Key Philanthropic Decisions Corporate America is Making During This Period of Economic Downturn?
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In a recent edition of “Corporate Philanthropy,” Carolyn Cavicchio reported that corporate giving officers are under increasing pressure to achieve greater visibility and to find ways to use their budgets to enhance business.

Some issues that companies are struggling with include:

• Using philanthropy to improve the company’s image in the U.S. and abroad
• Being “local” in communities outside the U.S.
• Making up the difference in local giving after the company has gone through merger or acquisition and the headquarters has moved out of the U.S.
• Creating and budgeting for disaster and terrorism response plans
• Addressing the perception that employee volunteerism is “frivolous” when the employees are working harder to ensure the company survives the economic downturn
• Educating new leadership on the importance of community involvement

Some trends in the corporate community include:

• Making larger grants to fewer organizations
• Producing better results with less money and fewer staff
• Engaging in more creative grantmaking, i.e., bundling cash, product, and in-kind giving, and employee involvement
• Helping grantees identify other funding sources
• Making general operating grants as part of their exit strategies when discontinuing funding to long-term grantees
• Supporting capacity-building for key grantees

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