The Business of Good: Taking Corporate Giving to the Next Level

As a business owner, you’re no stranger to giving back to your community. You’ve likely sponsored events, made in-kind donations, and donated cash to organizations that align with your values. But did you know that you can take your corporate giving to the next level by partnering with Greater Houston Community Foundation?

At Greater Houston Community Foundation (Foundation), we’ve worked with numerous local and national corporations to help them build and grow their corporate philanthropy programs. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping you make a meaningful impact in your community, while also advancing your business goals.

“The partnership we have with Greater Houston Community Foundation allows our employees to live out our core values and achieve our mission to unlock energy for the betterment of our employees and our communities. With Greater Houston Community Foundation, we developed the Hilcorp Giving Program with the goal of helping our employees become life-long givers. They are taking ownership and delivering tremendous support to our communities.”

Mike Brezina, Senior Vice President for HR at Hilcorp

Corporate giving strategies: support your employees and your community

Effective corporate giving strategies create meaningful connections between your business, employees, and the local community while maximizing social impact. The Community Foundation helps companies develop comprehensive approaches that go beyond traditional check-writing to build sustainable, engaging corporate giving programs.

Corporate giving programs offered by the Community Foundation

Corporate foundations: a convenient and qualified corporate giving platform

Establishing a corporate donor advised fund (DAF) at the Community Foundation allows you to organize your company’s giving in a convenient and 501(c)(3)-qualified structure. This means you can donate appreciated assets, such as stock or real estate, and receive tax benefits while also supporting your favorite causes.

Executive donor advised funds: 

Offering an executive donor advised fund as an employee benefit can help activate your senior management’s community involvement. This elevated benefit allows your executives to make meaningful contributions to their favorite charities, while also providing a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Continue reading: How does a donor advised fund work?

Scholarship funds: support employees and the local community

The Community Foundation offers full-service scholarship management to assist you in the decision-making process, removing the administrative burden of application and award processing. We handle everything from online application development to ensuring that the final award is distributed according to IRS rules and regulations, and more.

Continue reading: How to start a scholarship fund

Disaster relief funds: employee engagement and powerful response

When disaster strikes or there’s an urgent need in your community, we can help you respond quickly and meaningfully. The Community Foundation can facilitate employee giving campaigns and provide guidance on processing donations, ensuring that your company’s giving is effective and impactful.

Corporate employee matching programs

The Community Foundation’s Corporate Employee Matching Program is a company-sponsored initiative that encourages employee philanthropy by matching their donations to qualifying nonprofits — usually dollar-for-dollar up to an established annual limit per employee. 

This program promotes employee well-being, strengthens the company’s community engagement and reputation, and fosters loyalty among staff. It’s a strategic investment that creates substantial community impact and yields significant benefits for your organization — truly a small investment with exponential returns.

Grantmaking administration and strategy support for corporate philanthropy programs

We know that responding to grant requests can be overwhelming. That’s why we offer grantmaking administration and strategy services to help you prioritize your giving and evaluate requests based on your company’s goals. Our team can help you create a customized strategy for responding to requests and ensure that your giving is aligned with your values.

Furthermore, the administrative workload associated with maximizing the benefits for your organization and staying compliant with the IRS and other legal requirements can be significant. The Community Foundation can help you make sure you’re taking advantage of every opportunity, staying within corporate charitable contribution limits, and not creating regulatory headaches in the process. 

Continue reading: How to start a corporate philanthropy program

What is corporate social responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a much broader concept than that of corporate giving. It describes a set of ideas which outline a corporation’s responsibility to the communities surrounding them, and how one might integrate social, environmental, and ethical considerations into their core operations and decision-making processes.

CSR initiatives generally address the following four areas. 

• Environmental responsibility
• Ethical responsibility
• Philanthropic responsibility
• Economic responsibility

Corporate philanthropy programs are usually one component of a larger CSR strategy, allowing companies to directly address social challenges through financial contributions, employee volunteer programs, and strategic partnerships with nonprofits.

Remaining committed to corporate citizenship can help your organization develop a sustainable approach to giving—one informed by your values that benefits both your business and the broader community.

A corporate giving program that aligns with your organizational objectives

At the Community Foundation, we believe that every business has its own unique objectives and values. That’s why we work closely with you to create a tailored approach that supports causes that align with your business goals. Our team is honored to serve as a resource and sounding board as you build your charitable plans and pursue your philanthropic objectives.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your corporate giving to the next level, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Contact Stephanie Blair, Director of Corporate Relations today, or call the Community Foundation at 713-333-2210, to learn how we can help you make a lasting impact in your community.

More Helpful Articles by Greater Houston Community Foundation: 

• How to Create an Endowment Fund
• Benefits of Starting a Private Foundation
• How to Donate Shares of Privately Held Companies
• How to Donate Business Interests Strategically
• Tax Strategies for Charitable Giving

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