Communities have typically benefited from the companies that call them home. I'm not talking about the job creation or impact to the tax base, but philanthropic outreach that over time has become taken for granted. Unfortunately, that very mindset -- of considering philanthropic giving, whether in dollars or volunteer hours, as a given -- has eroded many corporations' local giving programs. With demand for greater return from investors, charitable giving is a seemingly easy cut to make.
Why not, right? Many executives view a community's reliance on corporate support as unsustainable, and are offended by the entitlement mentality. The fault herein lies with organizations continually extending their hands for grants, yet offering nothing to the company in return in the way of reputation gain.
The good news is that mentality among local non-profits is shifting, bolstered by advocates such as Curt Weeden. They're seeing -- slowly -- the need for the win-win.
The bad news, however, is that corporations are continuing to slide on this front... something Weeden's latest book -- Smart Giving is Good Business -- lays out in exquisite detail.
At the heart of the matter is corporate misunderstanding about the role of philanthropy, and how it can advance business. But at the same time, especially as it applies to local giving, I can't help but wonder if this is tied to a trend among senior executives to be less involved in civic pursuits on a personal level.
Yes, many execs hold multiple local and regional board seats for appearance purposes, but fewer seem to be actively engaged, citing time pressures. Add to that a growing trend of executives who work remotely -- and who never truly affiliate themselves with their adopted communities -- and you have a class of disconnected, socially-unaware leaders.
As a former Fortune 1000 senior executive who had direct oversight for philanthropic pursuits, I experienced the challenge first hand. Peers found it too easy to dismiss grant requests, even those promising a win-win, since they didn't understand the community itself. What suffered were the very organizations that made the community appealing for employees -- visual and performing arts, social assistance, enhanced education and more.
In no uncertain terms, a corporation has a philanthropic obligation to the communities in which it is based. But without meaningful personal involvement from senior business leaders, dollars will continue to be held back.
Have you succeeded or failed in getting your executive team to be personally involved in the community? Share your stories with a comment.
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