Corporate philanthropies are often called to respond swiftly to unexpected crises, from natural disasters to geopolitical conflicts, that demand immediate support for affected communities. Balancing these pressures can be challenging, especially in a polarized political environment. Decisions regarding whether or how to respond can attract intense public scrutiny, sometimes leading to backlash and impacting a company’s reputation and bottom line.

The Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy team has identified a number of practical strategies to help corporate philanthropies navigate these challenges with greater confidence. Drawing on insights shared by leaders and executives in the field, the authors have organized these approaches into three broad categories:

• Strategize: Corporate philanthropies are increasingly turning to scenario planning and cross-disciplinary task forces to proactively prepare for potential challenges.
• Simplify: Some corporate philanthropies are becoming more selective about when to engage in disaster response, while others are streamlining disaster response through the use of intermediaries to ensure that they can remain focused on their long-term signature programs.
• Partner: Strong partnerships can amplify impact, and the report highlights examples of a coalition of private-sector actors and a long-term partnership between a corporate philanthropy and a nonprofit.

Log in and download this report to discover how these principles can help corporate philanthropies stay ahead of tomorrow’s challenges effectively.