Corporate giving and CSR, strategic partnerships of the business and NGOs

The Conference stated that there has been a shift in perception of corporations on the part of NGOs from the corporation as “purse” to the corporation as partners. The issue that this shift raises was the central theme in the session:

• who makes the decision as to priorities (a one-way or a two-way process)
• how partners are chosen
• the degree of independence of the NGO in this relationship
• the question of whether certain areas of activity tend to be absent from this area of corporation-NGO partnerships, and even of whether certain fields (e.g. culture) may not be distorted by it.
  

In the context of global recession decline of funding provided by corporate donors is apparent. Participants like Jack Stack recommend that corporations should not withdraw from engagement with NGOs, but try to keep their support on the level proportional to their income (e.g. 1% ).