Hand-wringers ask whether, left to their own devices, Americans will do the right thing. Of course, they will. The expanding economy is driving charitable giving to unprecedented levels. Philanthropy is a growth industry as we enter the 21st century. Giving by corporations is up as well.
Corporate philanthropy comes in all shapes and sizes, but increasingly it is tied to marketing.
Exxon markets itself as a protector of endangered tigers and Wal-Mart commercials boast of employees volunteering in local communities. Visa and American Express for a long time have tied use of their credit cards to various fund-raising campaigns. Of course, corporate philanthropy is something of an oxymoron. Companies can't perform truly charitable acts any more than they can fall in love. Genuine charity is strictly a human endeavor.