Corporate Relations & Engagement

Gifts In Kind International has partnered with the National League of Cities (NLC) to lend a hand to Denver-based nonprofits. The organizations will join forces at NLC’s 2010 Congress of Cities & Exposition, November 30 – December 4 in Denver, Colorado. Attendees of the conference will help to sort and organize products donated through Gifts In Kind from businesses and retail stores throughout the city and beyond; donations will be distributed to qualified charities in the Denver community.

Businesses following Toms Shoes' so-called "one-for-one" giving model are pinning their hopes on consumers' consciences, saying the strategy can benefit more than just people in need by being an effective marketing tool. Eighty percent of 1,057 U.S. adults surveyed in July said they'd favor a brand that's associated with a good cause over another that's similar in price and quality, according to Cone LLC, a strategy and communications agency in Boston. And 19% said they would switch to a more expensive brand to support a cause.

Neutrogena, the #1 dermatologist-recommended skin care brand, announced today that, with the help of teens across America, the Wave for Change campaign achieved its goal of raising $200,000 for communities in need.  The donation will be divided among three causes in the US and globally, as determined by teens on Neutrogena's Facebook Page.

Gail Wilson-Giarratano prepares for a grilling when she asks for money for Girls Inc. of the Capital Region, a youth program for inner-city girls in Schenectady and Albany.

Gone are the days when corporate donors wrote checks for the “nice” programs or the “cute” girls, said Wilson-Giarratano, the nonprofit’s CEO and its chief fundraiser.

The recession has left corporate donors with less money to give, and they are scrutinizing charitable requests with a keen eye. Now, more than ever, return on investment weighs heavily in determining who gets what.

Pursuant Sports, a leader in fundraising and online media solutions, and Oregon State University (OSU) Department of Athletics recently announced their partnership on a strategic development campaign to significantly augment financial support of the school's athletic program. The initiative, called "12,000 by 2012," seeks to double OSU Athletics' current donor base by supplementing game ticket sales with philanthropic fundraising based on the overall value of the

National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) and Harris announced today an initiative demonstrating Harris' expanded commitment to philanthropy. Harris is launching a donor-advised fund program, the Harris Charitable Fund Program, under the sponsorship and management of NPT, a national public charity. Also, the Harris myCFO Foundation, a public charity, has also granted its assets to NPT, which will also administer the granted assets under the Harris Charitable Fund Program. A donor-advised fund under the Harris Charitable Fund Program will be distinguished

How would you like to win $10,000+ in cash and in-kind services as recognition for all you've done for the community this year? Rally your supporters to nominate you for the 2nd Annual CLASSY Awards. If you have a chapter or have hosted an event/fundraiser/campaign in the Chicagoland area you may be eligible for a CLASSY Award.

Tony Blair, who took Britain to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, is donating millions in earnings from his forthcoming memoir to a charity for injured troops. The Royal British Legion said Monday that the former prime minister has agreed to give all proceeds from "A Journey" to its Battle Back Challenge Center. The center opens in 2012 and will provide state of the art sports facilities and rehabilitation services for seriously wounded personnel.

While corporations cut back their charitable giving in 2009, non-cash contributions by U.S.-based companies rose by 5 percent, USA Today reports. A recent survey of the nation's largest companies conducted by the Chronicle of Philanthropy and USA Today found that the dollar amount of cash grants awarded by U.S.-based corporations declined some 7.5 percent, to $3.9 billion, in 2009. The survey also found that non-cash contributions of items such as computer equipment, software, drugs, and employees' time accounted for more than 50 percent of the total charitable contributions at nineteen of the companies surveyed. For example, employees at Bank

In a new fundraising tactic, the Florida Marlins are pitching a behind-the-scenes tour of their new ballpark to help raise money for new housing in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The baseball franchise and Food for the Poor, an international nonprofit agency, have teamed up for a month-long fundraising campaign called Homes for Haiti. On Monday, they announced a new incentive in the campaign. The first 10 donors -- individuals or companies -- who give $1,000 or more will receive a tour for two of the Marlins' stadium currently under construction. The donors also will be treated to a cocktail party at