Philanthropic Partnerships

This chapter explores corporate philanthropy. From the higher education side, the process includes developing strategy, developing a case statement (i.e., a justification of needs and wants), research and prospect identification, communication and verification of interest, cultivating the friendship or relationship, making the ask, tracking and using resources, and thanking and recognition. From the corporate side, philanthropy may be bifurcated as altruistic and benevolent or as strategic and instrumental fulfilling societal expectations, town-and-gown functionality, or community goodwill. A range of motives exist for both the academy and businesses in these interorganizational relationships—typically economic, social, or environmental. Ethics plays a role in these dynamic interactions on the individual, organizational, and institutional levels.