Because there is so much personal contact involved with unstaffed foundations, it may be difficult at times for these funders to remain objective. This can work both to your advantage and disadvantage. It becomes critical to know the size, structure, and staffing pattern of the foundation prospects. Corporate Giving involves foundations that are established to allow a parent company to have permanent philanthropic capability. They share the same classification as private foundations and must follow the same legal requirements for reporting and distributing income.
Most corporations limit their giving to areas where there is some sort of company presence.
Foundation officers and board members are often directly associated with the parent company. The review process is identical to that of private foundations with strict deadlines and regular board meetings. The other form of corporate giving is direct giving programs that allow companies to contribute at a very local level. For direct giving programs there may be more flexibility, and the proposal may not have to be as elaborate. It is crucial to research your funding source as well as funding opportunities in order to maximize your impact and effectiveness when submitting a funding proposal.