Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy Briefs

Has the world of organized philanthropy done everything it can to shore up democratic values and aspirations? A new report details the findings of a symposium of foundations and nonprofit leaders that discussed the role of philanthropy in addressing the deepening cleavages in American society.

How exactly should companies participate in policy development and debate? The corporate sector has influenced policy through government relations for decades, but recently companies have been taking more public positions on policy and social issues. A new book from Tom Sheridan suggests that success comes from working across the aisle.

Will the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) reduce the amount individuals give to charity? Research from Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy suggests troubling phenomena that could bring the nonprofit arts sector to a critical tipping point.

Water is a precious commodity, but it's in danger. The UN has cautioned that Sustainable Development Goal #6, which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030, is not on track. Companies need to help not only manage their own water use and discharge, but to also be a catalyst for change.

Detroit's recovery is starting to gain ground, guided by, among other things, Detroit Future City (DFC), a 50-year vision for the city developed with input from more than 100,000 Detroiters. Companies have always been an important part of Detroit and they're critical to its recovery. Quicken Loans, JPMorgan Chase, and Ford are among several organizations that provide a model for corporate engagement in Detroit.

If you were the founder or CEO of a start-up company or later-stage firm, would you be willing to pledge 1 percent of your equity to charity? Building a purpose-based company from the beginning can be difficult without cash or profit, but pledging 1 percent of your equity is a quick and easy way to get started. Pledge 1% is a global on-line movement that encourages and empowers companies of all sizes and stages to do just that.

As companies file their 2018 taxes, several corporate philanthropic leaders have contacted the Council on Foundations with concerns surrounding the new excise tax. As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Section 4960 of the bill imposes a 21 percent excise tax on highly-paid executives of nonprofit organizations.

Are you using technology effectively to engage employees in community programs? A partnership between Georgia Power and Purposity is showing how disruptive technology can be used to boost the long-held practice of community engagement.

Is a lack of benchmarking capabilities hampering you from pursuing continuous improvement and innovation in your social impact measurement? With a corporate culture that values data and benchmarking, The Allstate Foundation was lacking a data-driven social impact measurement framework that aggregated metrics across its entire portfolio. The Impact Genome Project helped the organization update its metrics and devise an outcomes-based social impact measurement and reporting strategy.