Corporate voluntarism does not arise spontaneously in free market economies, nor is it a panacea for the problems facing societies in the throes of social and economic change. Several caveats must be pointed out. First, corporate voluntarism succeeds when both the corporation and the community benefit. Strategies to promote corporate voluntarism must make the private sector a partner in identifying needs and formulating programs, not just a financier. Second, public policy must pave the way for voluntarism.
Tax policy is at least as important as social policy in encouraging corporate voluntarism.
Third, corporate voluntarism is a new concept for most private enterprises in emerging democracies. Finally, leaders in the private and public sectors must support the establishment of well managed non-profit institutions. As the Litewska project demonstrates, the presence of an institution that is well organized, professionally managed, and financially accountable is a prerequisite to winning a significant corporate commitment. Informal, unfocused organizations or initiatives cannot win the confidence of corporate executives. Social programs can and should be beneficiaries of market-oriented economic reform.