Despite continued support for these groups, some of GTE's largest grants in 1995 supported nonprofits that advocate rational public policies. These grants helped GTE earn its much improved Patterns rating. Still, there have been significant improvements in giving at Exxon and GTE over just four years. Corporate board directors and top management are paying attention to company donations, partly as a result of proposed federal legislation to force corporate disclosure of charitable grants. Companies may begin to tailor their giving to groups that are more favorable to the interests of shareholder activists rather than political activists.
American companies are under pressure to support activist nonprofits.
Unless their activities and political agendas are exposed, corporate leaders will not know that they need to identify more productive nonprofits that help others by personal empowerment and private sector initiative. Corporations face few public pressures to support free-market advocates. Yet some like Exxon and GTE give to conservative nonprofits, because they recognize their value. The patterns of corporate philanthropy must change. Companies like Exxon and GTE, while far from perfect, are moving in the right direction and are leading by example.