Corporate Philanthropy Update - June 2019

Summer is officially here and for corporate philanthropy, I’d venture to report we are off to a great start. From the release of the 2019 Giving USA report to the number of important spring and summer sector conferences, momentum for companies’ involvement in social impact is rising.

This year’s Giving USA report  found that corporate giving rose to an all-time high of $20.5B in 2018, highlighting an increase in strategic philanthropic investment. It also confirmed trends amongst many companies’ philanthropic giving—like an emphasis on greater alignment with company goals, development of new operational directions, and deeper engagement in social issues.

These trends resonate with conversations I’ve had with corporate leaders over the past month. I’ve traveled to Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Paul and San Antonio—meeting with members, leading trainings, attending sector conferences and learning about the new approaches businesses are taking to drive social impact through corporate giving. I met with the Charles Schwab Foundation who teamed up with Common Impact to launch a engagement toolkit to execute and evaluate skills-based volunteerism called Capacity Commons. I have heard from many who are contemplating how to best navigate between the use of their corporate giving program and corporate foundation, like Hilton and USAA. I learned that Ledios has taken a stance to mobilize private sector leaders in addressing the opioid epidemic. And, I spoke with Capital Companies Group Foundation in LA and discovered how their employee-choice engagement model has delivered proven results to enhance culture at their company.

If there is a trend from the Giving USA report or a general topic/cause that you’d like to explore further with the Council network, email me at lindsay.mason@cof.org. I’d love to work with you to curate deeper conversations that help you maximize your philanthropic impact.

Lindsay Mason

Director, Corporate Philanthropy
Lindsay.Mason@cof.org
202-991-5927
 

Reimagining the Council

This summer, Council President & CEO, Kathleen Enright will conduct in-person and virtual engagement sessions with members and friends across the country to learn how the Council can best support a strong, resilient and effective philanthropic field. We'd love for you to attend one of these sessions and share your feedback.

In-Person Sessions will be held in:

Raleigh: July 10 | North Carolina Network of Grantmakers
San Francisco: July 30 | Northern California Grantmakers
Los Angeles: August 1 | Southern California Grantmakers

Virtual Sessions will be held on:

July 2 | 3-4 p.m. ET
July 25 | 1-2 p.m. ET
August 14| 4-5 p.m. ET

For more information or to schedule a call with Kathleen, visit cof.org/reimagine.

Philanthropic Resources Needed to Ensure an Accurate 2020 Census Count
July 10 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET

Join the Council for a funders-only webinar with the Democracy Funders 2020 Census Subgroup to learn more about the national philanthropy strategy to ensure an accurate count on the 2020 census. REGISTER >>

FARA, FATF, AND DE-RISKING (OH MY)!
July 18 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET

Learn about all the global regulatory acronyms – FARA, FATF and De-Risking and hear for how these regulations affect global Grantmakers today. REGISTER >>

Legal Matters Workshop for Corporate Foundation/ Giving Programs
Chicago, IL | September 5, 2019

Calling all Corporate Philanthropy Practitioners, leaders and Corporate Counsel:  The Council on Foundations and Forefront are partnering to offer a Legal Matters Workshop for Corporate Foundations/Giving Programs in Chicago this Fall.

Join us as we share the legalities of charitable giving and discuss topics such as governance, self-dealing, expenditure responsibilities and so much more.

(Space is Limited)

Special thanks to Mars Wrigley Foundation for supporting Legal Matters our host for Chicago!

2019 Endowments and Finance Summit
Washington, DC | September 19-20, 2019

The Endowments & Finance Summit, the leading forum at the nexus of philanthropy, finance, investment, and policy is where C-Suite foundation leaders go to explore the shifting forces in the investment landscape; gain invaluable insights on trends, strategies, and new regulations; and have candid conversations about threats to business models.

Corporate Philanthropy Roundtable Discussion: Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Corporate Philanthropy - Round 2

At the Council, we have seen growth in the number of corporate philanthropy practitioners asking for guidance on how to navigate strategic options and manage change to support philanthropic portfolios in times of transition. In April, we held a peer exchange around common questions and solutions; and we are gearing up for another roundtable discussion this Fall. If this topic resonates with you and you want to join the conversation, email us at Mergers@cof.org.

Capacity Commons' Skills Based Volunteerism Online Platform | This tool, sponsored by Charles Schwab Foundation, is intended to define and manage pro bono projects and measure their financial value and social impact.

2019 Giving USA Report | This report, produced by the Giving USA Foundation and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, shares the sources, use and trends of charitable giving throughout the United States by individuals, corporations and foundations.

Business as Bridging Leaders: A Guide on Cross Sectoral Partnerships | This tool from Synergos is intended ignite conversation around the most effective and valuable partnerships for social impact.

LatinxFunders | This website by Hispanics in Philanthropy & Candid documents the landscape of funding in the Latinx community and provides guidance for funders interested in investing in the Latinx populations across the US and its territories.