Northern California Grantmakers

Last month NCG convened corporate grantmakers for our 2012 day-long Corporate Philanthropy Institute (CPI). Corporate Social (R)evolution: From Social Entrepreneurship to Shared Value featured a slate of presenters who explored many of the new ideas and concepts in social innovation&#8212from social entrepreneurship to shared value to B corporations.

“Catch the sea change, not the wave,” advised keynote speaker Peter Karoff, founder and former President of The Philanthropic Initiative. The corporate grantmaking landscape is shifting. And while the field is evolving one thing is absolutely clear: there is no one way to do the work. In fact, multiple modes of corporate grantmaking have emerged&#8212many featured in presentations throughout the day.

From the McKesson Foundation‘s soon-to-launch Giving Comfort program which aligns naturally with the company’s expertise in the healthcare industry or B Corp building a community of certified B corporations that “distinguishes good companies from good marketing” or Mission Hub which provides a physical space where social entrepreneurs can come together to exchange ideas-innovation and the need to respond to the societal shift of connecting life and work is driving corporate grantmakers into uncharted waters.

While the waters are uncharted and the models for approaching the work are new there was another theme that resonated throughout the day: the social connection. All three plenary panels focused in on how corporate grantmakers’ work intersects with society-via social innovation, social change and social movements.

“Corporations are powerful platforms of convergence: employees, markets, communities-local and global. This is what businesses know how to do,” explained Peter Karoff. “This work has a moral dimension, but we shy away from it. It enhances the business imperative. Employees don’t check at the office door the person we want to be. Nor should you or I.”

For resources related to this year’s Corporate Philanthropy Institute, visit www.ncg.org/cpi [member login required].