News

Guide to corporate giving published

1 November 2011

New Philanthropy Capital says CSR funding programmes are most effective when a company focuses on particular social issues or geographical areas.

Guidance published by New Philanthropy Capital says corporate funding programmes are usually most effective when a company focuses its giving on particular social issues or geographical areas.

Corporate Giving, published by New Philanthropy Capital ( (NPC) is a consultancy and think tank dedicated to helping funders and charities achieve a greater impact) which provides guidance for corporate funders in their charitable giving, says that giving by companies fell from £808m in 2008 to £762m in 2010 – a fall of 5.7 per cent. "It is crucial for companies to think about how to use their limited charitable resources in the best way possible," the report says.

The report was written by Lena Baumgartner, NPC's head of funder effectiveness, and Rachel Findlay and Clare Yeowart, both senior consultants. It says corporate funding programmes are usually most effective when a company focuses its giving on particular social issues or geographical areas. It urges companies to think about how they can align their business and charitable objectives in order to do this.

Once a cause area has been decided, the guide says it is often a daunting task for companies to choose a charity to fund.

"It is often tempting to rely on criteria such as brand or administration costs when choosing a charity," it says. "But if you want to make the biggest impact with your money, it is important to try to judge charities by their effectiveness."

"Two Saints is an ideal strategic partner for businesses local to our services" says Louise Barnden, Chief Executive of Two Saints. "We use donations to enable people who are homeless by proving a route back to independent living, most often through opportunities to engage in education, employment or training. This means that any company investing in Two Saints services through their Corporate Social Responsibility programme, is also investing in the health of their local community".

If you would like to discuss how your company could help to support the community where you do business, and in which your colleagues live and work, please contact us.

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