Corporate giving programs still apply available corporate resources to meet community needs, involve employees and management alike, are results-oriented, and are evaluated in terms that are understood and supported throughout the entire company. New approaches to corporate philanthropy, pioneered on the West Coast, are highly responsive to the faster tracks of high-tech enterprise. Among new companies experiencing IPOs, senior executives agree for the company to donate a certain number of shares to philanthropy, so that their community may also benefit from their success. Applying venture capital techniques to growing small charities. Investors create major pools of funds, research possible beneficiary organizations, then donate both funds and technical expertise to growth management.
Innovation is the theme and modus operandi.
The New England Women's Fund was founded in 1995 to encourage women to see themselves as philanthropists, and in particular to encourage them to support charities serving women and girls. In 1998 however they decided to focus on sports, which research shows can be crucially important to girls and women in developing healthy minds and healthy bodies. They also sponsor panel discussions, presentations and workshops promoting philanthropy by and for women. Please contact them if you are interested. Here is an example of how the boundary between profit and benefit enterprise in America is being re-drawn.