Giving Compass' Take:

• Maurizio Bragagni, writing for Medium, discusses how corporate philanthropy can benefit the bottom line for businesses.

•  How can CSR missions help with retaining employees?

• Here are five elements for a model of corporate social responsibility.

Charities are looking to sign up their COTYs (Charity of The Year corporate partners) and companies are looking to make the right choice of beneficiary partners.

Corporate philanthropy is a high-value, share-price enhancing activity for some. It has the potential to add to businesses’ appeal for potential and existing clients — being part of something good — and a boost effect on retaining employees, for the same reasons.

As companies have grown to understand how best to harness the power of doing good many have sought to be more strategic in their philanthropy. And charities have had to respond. Those that ‘look’ more like the sort of organizations big business is used to working with undoubtedly do better when attracting corporate sign-up. It’s just easier for big business to engage.

Yes, there is a case for asking ‘what the giving gets me?’ for business, but is that really what we’re all about? Giving itself feels good — when you can track the difference your effort makes to the lives of others, and see those results, do we really need any more?

However, it does appear on the bottom line and cause-related marketing will provide a halo-effect ‘lift’ for business through public relations, brand and reputation management.

Read the full article about corporate philanthropy by Maurizio Bragagni at Medium.