What’s next for corporate philanthropy

Key takeaways

• Major shifts in the world (such as climate disasters and a global racial reckoning) have led to consumer, employee, and stakeholder activism that’s pushing corporate philanthropy to do more for society.
• Corporate philanthropy’s unique place between the models of business and philanthropy can offer funders a third way to create social impact—not “corporate” or “philanthropy,” but uniquely “corporate philanthropy.”
• By embracing critical frontiers in philanthropic practices, companies can meet society’s urgent demands and address issues at a deeper level.

Shifting your philanthropy strategy

A new era of opportunity in corporate philanthropy

Corporate philanthropy is caught between two paradigms. 

It’s expected to deliver quick, measurable returns on investment as a business would—even when it’s addressing challenges where progress is hard to quantify. And it’s also expected to succeed by the standards of a traditional philanthropic foundation, but without the deep financial pockets and singular focus on charity. At the same time, corporate philanthropy is being asked to do more than ever before. The world’s disparities and injustices have become harder to ignore. The first few years of this decade have already seen a global pandemic, a widespread reckoning on racial justice, and climate-related disasters.  Those shifts spurred greater social consciousness that has led consumers, employees, and the public to push organizations to make philanthropy a bigger priority.

These circumstances have made it difficult for corporate philanthropy to reach its potential. Difficult, but not impossible. To meet today’s challenges, corporate philanthropy can move beyond the paradigms that limit it, towards a uniquely new model.

“It’s up to companies to tear away the sediment of old ways of creating social good.”

-John Brothers, president of the T. Rowe Price Foundation.

Understanding the “Edges” of corporate philanthropy

Finding a new way forward starts with finding your “Edges,” critical frontiers of philanthropic practice that are particularly well-aligned to broader shifts in society. Exploring these Edges can help you discover more equitable and effective approaches to corporate giving, including:

• Rethinking corporate philanthropy’s role
  How corporate philanthropy leaders are moving beyond just grantmaking to rethink the ways they add value
• Balancing power
  How corporate philanthropies are navigating the inherent power dynamics in the ways they approach their work
• Acting with others
  How corporate philanthropies are expanding impact via collaboration within and beyond the private sector
• Creative funding mechanisms
  How corporate philanthropies are allocating and disbursing funds in new ways