Corporate Social Investing

1The Confused State ofCorporate Philanthropy

Each year, companies spend billions on something called external relations, and they frequently do so without enforcing the same kind of tough management standards that they usually apply to other aspects of their businesses. Stakeholders are often left scratching their heads about the true value of a hodgepodge of “soft” functions that encompass community and public affairs, corporate social responsibility, and—most of all—corporate philanthropy.

Mixed Impressions

Of all the activities that have been stuck into this curious corporate corner, perhaps nothing is more mystifying than the way businesses relate (or don’t relate) to nonprofit organizations and government institutions. If the public is left ...