Corporate social responsibility (CSR) may feel like a term that has reached workplace ubiquity but it’s much more than a buzzword. Today, CSR is a necessary component of healthy management practice, and with a corporate donor-advised fund (DAF), it’s easier than ever for a business to make a philanthropic impact.

CSR refers to the range of practices businesses use in order to maintain ethical standards or achieve social and environmental benefits. Whether internal initiatives (like reducing a business’ carbon impact) or external opportunities (like an employee volunteer partnership with a local nonprofit), impactful CSR efforts are increasingly important for brand perception, building loyalty among employees and attracting investors and customers. According to Governance and Accountability Institute’s 2021 Sustainability Reporting in Focus report, the estimated number of S&P 500 companies publishing CSR reports ballooned from just 20% in 2011 to 92% in 2020.

Corporate philanthropy is an important component of CSR, serving as testament to the company’s values or mission. Donor-advised funds help streamline individual and family philanthropy, and DAFs for corporations, LLCs or partnerships can provide the same benefits for businesses. Setting up a corporate DAF with NPT is as easy as establishing a DAF for an individual donor. The corporation or other entity is considered the primary advisor and an officer of the entity can name up to two “authorized advisors” to recommend grants and manage investment strategy on behalf of the corporate donor*.

With a corporate DAF, your client and their business can:

  1. 'Save time, money and energy on administration
  2. Streamline international grantmaking 
  3. Lean on NPT’s grant agreement expertise 
  4. Pass their tax savings on to their DAF for maximum impact 
  5. Access strategy and research to maximize giving goals 

Read the full article about CSR goals by Matthias Mackay at National Philanthropic Trust.