Insights into Corporate Grantmaking: Strategies from B:CIVIC Investors
Corporate grant making is one tool for supporting communities and driving social impact. We spoke with three corporate foundations, COPIC Medical Foundation, IMA Foundation and Get Grounded Foundation of GFM|CenterTable, to understand the approaches of foundations of differing sizes, maturities and focus areas. There are several common themes across the foundations:
- Focus areas address critical community needs while aligning with business strategies
- The review process incorporates many voices.
- Extending engagement with grantees and leveraging your business assets to further support and amplify impact beyond the grant.
Keep reading below for more insights on building your grantmaking strategy.
The Workforce of the Future: Spanning Five Generations Recap
When it comes to authentically uplifting employees of different generations, our expert panelists recommended leading from a place of curiosity, having mentorship programs and developing processes to share institutional knowledge. They reminded us that while labels like “Boomers” and “Gen Z” can be helpful starting points for understanding, be mindful of stereotypes and recognize that someone’s generation is only one part of their identity.
Thank you to Gina Del Castillo, Polica Houston, Mara Olsen and Ashley Woodman for sharing their insights and expertise. Thank you to Liz Gardner for being our moderator.
Colorado’s Top Social Impact Trends for 2024
2023 was a year of innovation and deeper commitment to sustainability and social impact. In the face of corporate challenges like shrinking budgets, national pressures to take a stance, changing regulations and greater staff capacity needs, Colorado companies continued to grow their impact. Learn more about four trends Colorado companies will lead into 2024:
Managing Our Mission: Sustainable Event Practices at the 2023 B:CIVIC Summit
The 2023 B:CIVIC Summit demonstrated how to balance growth and sustainability during a large in-person event as we hosted 400+ attendees and achieved recognition as a Certifiably Green Denver (CGD) Event. Throughout the Summit, we committed to demonstrating our values, Colorado’s Civic DNA: inclusivity, collaboration, shared vision, leadership and responsibility. Our conference mission was to showcase sustainable event practices and community inclusion and share best practices as to how others may prioritize this at their own organizations.
Learn how we implemented the Summit’s sustainability mission below.
Small Business Spotlight: Premier Members Credit Union
Premier Members Credit Union (PMCU) is the first credit union in Colorado to be certified by the Colorado Green Business Network (CGBN). This certification recognizes PMCU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions, support of environmental sustainability and environmental justice organizations across the front range and their equitable business practices both internally and externally.
“Since 2019, our sustainability program has overseen a 17% decrease in the greenhouse gas intensity of PMCU buildings and increased purchase of renewable energy credits to over 20% of our total electricity consumption,” said Garrett Chappell, Senior Sustainability Specialist at PMCU. “We have also to re-invested over $40,000 to local grassroots organizations across all our member communities fighting to preserve Colorado’s environment and the well-being of our families and neighbors.”
We spoke with Garrett to learn more about the CGBN Certification and PMCU’s sustainability initiatives.
Aligning Your Values Throughout the Workforce Journey Recap
“Employees can do the work; they want to know what kind of environment they’ll arrive to.”
– Carissa McCabe, GFM|CenterTable
10% of people are job searching today, and they’re looking for more than a paycheck. Organizations need to communicate and demonstrate their values to prospective employees and current teammates in order to thrive.
Thank you to Sean Choi of FirstBank, Michael Greenlee of Emerge and Carissa McCabe of GFM|CenterTable for sharing their insights and expertise. Thank you to Anna Costello for being our moderator.