San Diego Grantmakers
Meet the Funders February 2015 Corporate Philanthropy
San Diego Grantmakers Regional association of grantmakers 100 members foundations, corporations, other institutional philanthropy OUR MISSION: To connect, educate, develop and inspire organized philanthropy to be more effective individually and collectively. OUR VISION: A vibrant, diverse, and enduring philanthropic sector that strengthens communities.
SDG s 5 Roles Connecting grantmakers to each other Connecting grantmakers to knowledge and best practices Facilitating collaboration among funders and across sectors Ensuring that organized philanthropy and members work are appropriately visible with key leaders Leveraging local philanthropy to help bring more resources to our region
SDG s Corporate Giving Aspirations 1. Support our Corporate Giving members learning, networking, best practices 2. Inspire and support greater and more effective corporate philanthropy in San Diego 3. To spread the word that corporate giving and corporate volunteering are good business
Grantmaking in San Diego USD State of Nonprofits Report More than 600 foundations Most small and unstaffed- 53% have less than $500K in assets More than half $ come from outside county ¾ grant $ stay here, ¼ $ leave county SD avg grant dollars per nonprofit: $34K $51K in Los Angeles $297K in San Francisco $55K in California
Corporate Philanthropy Broadly Defined Direct cash grants/gifts to nonprofits Sponsorships of fundraising events In kind donations of product/services Workplace/employee giving programs Loans of employee talent Employee volunteer programs Partnerships with nonprofits/causes
Corporate Giving Forms Corporate Giving Program: a grantmaking program established and administered within a profit-making company. Gifts or grants go directly to charitable organizations from the corporation. Corporate Foundations: usually started with a single gift that can become the endowment, which may be added to on an annual basis or if profits allow. A separate legal entity. Donor Advised Fund at Community Foundation: funds given to be granted on behalf of the company
Reasons Companies Give Change from checkbook charity to strategic giving that impacts business goals Attract/retain employees engagement and development Customer loyalty Brand recognition Stronger community in which to do business Reputation corporate social responsibility
Truths about SD Corporate Giving A few big and engaged firms that give back Not many big Fortune 500 headquarters Most companies are small to medium size Most are community relations/giving programs versus foundations Many focus on employee engagement and sponsorships; growing emphasis on in-kind and shared value
Advice from Guru Carol Cone Connect to the business purpose 87% consumers want companies to place equal weight on society s interests as business interests Engaged organizations have a 3.9% higher earnings per share growth than those in same industry Engage the Hands, Convince the Head, Touch the Heart Actively manage relationships, not just programs
Getting Support from Big Companies (July 22, 2012 Chronicle of Philanthropy) 1. Hire staff that speaks corporate donor language 2. Research the grantmaker s work 3. Highlight volunteer opportunities 4. Focus on results 5. Tell a compelling story about your work 6. Collaborate with other nonprofits 7. Connect with company employees 8. If a grant application is rejected, ask why
Final Thoughts Align your purpose with their business purpose Adapt to online/electronic application process Employee engagement is huge Resource constrained on both sides
Corporate Giving Resources Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy Conference Board U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center Council on Foundations Corporate Programs Cone, Edelman San Diego Business Journal Corporate Philanthropy Supplement Annually AMA Cause Conference Smart Giving is Good Business Curt Weeden The Business of Changing the World: 20 Great Leaders on Strategic Corporate Philanthropy Mark Benioff