Corporate Relations & Engagement

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin and the 286th richest person in the world, is an accomplished philanthropist. And he's never been shy about sharing his philanthropic vision. But at last week's Coupa Inspire '16 conference, Branson hinted at a new approach to his philanthropy, one that appears to rely less on the nonprofit sector and more on the business world...

For-profit companies have often sought to generate goodwill through charitable donations and a combination of environmental and social advocacy. For some companies, however, the occasional goodwill gesture isn’t enough. That’s what B Corporations are for: These for-profit companies intend to make money, of course, but doing good also is one of their goals...

Matching gifts, foundation grants, volunteer programs—there are plenty of ways for corporations to give. But a handful of companies are pushing the bounds of corporate giving, experimenting with new initiatives and pushing philanthropy as an organizational philosophy...

Corporate giving is growing, and fast. Its double-digit growth from 2013 to 2014 was second only to foundations (at 15 percent). A study by Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy projected it to grow 4.6 percent in 2016 and 4.7 percent in 2017. And according to “Giving in Numbers 2014,” companies providing paid-release volunteer programs increased from 54 percent in 2012 to 59 percent in 2014. What does increased emphasis on philanthropy in the corporate sector mean for nonprofits?...

General Electric Co. (GE) plans to donate $50 million over the next five years to Boston and the surrounding area. The money comes as GE gets set to move its global headquarters and 800 employees to the South Boston Seaport. But there are critics. And they charge the city and state are giving GE a…

Last week, I offered some considerations for choosing your next position. I’m not advocating change; in fact, I feel discouraged when I review the statistics on longevity of fundraising professionals. A 2013 study called "Underdeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising" found that one in two chief fundraising officers plan to leave their jobs within two years....

We’re already a month into 2016. It’s time to start making (and sticking to) those resolutions to eat healthier foods, exercise more and have a more positive outlook. 2016 also is looking to be a great year for corporate philanthropy and nonprofits. From matching gifts and payroll giving to fundraising events and mobile giving, corporate…

I know many of my blog readers are senior marketing and fundraising folks, and with this comes the need to be good leaders and take on leadership roles. And, as you read this, I am sure we can all come up with examples throughout our careers where we have been “less than stellar” leaders and when we have had “less than stellar leaders” in our midst....

To those optimistic, persistent souls who have a vested interest in seeing positive social change in the U.S., here’s a sobering message: If you are looking for meaningful government support, don’t hold your breath. Political gridlock and mounting federal debt effectively have rendered the U.S. government impotent, robbing it of its historic ability to spur…

Corporate philanthropy is immensely important, and employee-giving programs are just one of the many ways that companies express their cultures of corporate social responsibility. There are many different ways for a company to craft its employee-giving program, but there are some amazing programs out there that companies can learn from...