What were the smartest—and silliest—corporate contributions of 2010?
Rachel Bellow and Suzanne Muchin, of ROI Ventures—a Chicago company that works with donors, business people, and nonprofits on creating business models and brand campaigns—offer their picks.
Their “worst” list:
• Target’s $150,000 political donation to Minnesota Forward, a group that supports pro-business candidates, including one gubernatorial candidate who ran on an anti-gay marriage platform. The move angered human-rights groups and stirred a boycott movement of the retail chain.
• Goldman Sachs dangling of casual Fridays before employees to convince them to ante up for charity. According to The New York Times, Goldman’s securities division offered its employees the chance to wear jeans to the office every Friday in August if they gave at least $25 to one of four designated nonprofits.
And their “best” list:
• Microsoft’s move to train more out-of-work people in technology skills, in part to compensate for its declining cash contributions amid the recession.
• Wal-Mart’s efforts to make its logistics staff members available to help food banks, as part of a $2-billion pledge to fight hunger.
• A 12-hour marathon effort by Discovery Communications employees to lend their marketing, communications, social media, and creative skills to nonprofits.
What do you think of Ms. Bellow and Ms. Muchin’s list? What would make your list of the best and worst of corporate giving last year?
9 Responses to The Best and Worst of Corporate Giving in 2010
lisaweisman - January 7, 2011 at 9:57 am
the concept of making a donation to have a casual office day is used in many nonprofits; I don’t think it should be on the worst list.
rossor - January 7, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Target’s donation is considered philanthropy? I seriously doubt the company sees it that way. I’m sure it’s more of an investment in conservative politicians.
jerome_harper - January 7, 2011 at 3:29 pm
I would have to agree with Lisaweisman regarding casual office days. What is the thought behind this being on a worst list?
volunteermatch - January 7, 2011 at 5:41 pm
I think you meant Discovery Communications, not Disney. Discovery is a partner of VolunteerMatch, and we recently wrote up a lengthy Q&A with one of their talented program leads. It’s a great model for other creative companies:
http://blogs.volunteermatch.org/volunteeringiscsr/2010/10/15/creating-change-with-pro-bono-a-q-a-with-discovery-communications/
Thanks,
Robert
(Twitter: @volmatch)
etmsanders - January 7, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Goldman Sachs “dangling” of casual Fridays smacks more of peer-pressure coercion than it does of a reward. Employees should be free to donate to whatever charities they wish – not the 4 selected by the corporation; in any amount they wish – do not assume that all of these folks are financially able to give $25; and not be subject to peer pressure (or ridicule). This is NOT corporate giving by Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs is giving nothing.
Notice that the good giving companies are actually giving by apparently paying employees while they are taking on charitable tasks.
mlwyland - January 11, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Rossor is correct-Minnesota Forward is not a charity. Its website says it’s an “independent political expenditure committee”. One may make “contributions” or “donations” to it, but these do not constitute charitable gifts.
Of course, the title of the piece here is “Best and Worst of Corporate Giving in 2010″, so the authors are not limited to consideration of gifts to charity. In fact, they could look at all kinds of gifts, including gifts to vendors & suppliers (fruitcakes, anyone? ).
There is no way to assess whether the broader phrasing was done specifically to allow the MN Forward donation to be included. However, it appears to be the only non-charitable donation on the list.
caro2675 - January 11, 2011 at 5:59 pm
volunteermatch – Thank you for pointing out the mistaken reference to “Disney Communications.” I have changed it to “Discovery Communications.”
Caroline, Chronicle of Philanthropy
prjeffwhite - January 20, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Corporate giving that is in alignment with the organizations overall mission – or as part of a giving program that is ongoing and sustainable – is just good business. Shareholders see the value and employees feel more connected to their company, are more likely to stay with the company and possibly contribute in their own way, be it time or money.
deishatg - February 7, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Wow! I’m Deisha Galberth, director of corporate communications at Walmart. I noticed this post and had to chime in. We are honored to be mentioned as an example of the best corporate giving in 2010. It’s no secret that hunger is a major problem in this country. It’s also no secret that no one entity can solve the problem alone. We are committed to doing our part.