Justification/Recommendation Report: Searching for the Best Philanthropic Project - Assignment Example

5 Leading Philanthropic Projects Among the twenty companies whose philanthropic projects were investigated include Kroger, Macys, Safeway, Dow Chemical, Morgan Stanley, Wal-Mart, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Exxon Mobil, Google, Intel, Coca Cola, Virgin Atlantic, Fly Emirates, Boeing, Pepsi, Microsoft, Rockefeller, Nike and Toyota. From the research, five companies were selected to have had the most effective philanthropic projects among these leading companies. These are Nike, Goldman Sachs, Kroger, Exxon Mobil and Intel.

NikeNike Ltd through the Nike foundation discovered a market-based approach to philanthropy. It used its expertise in market segmentation and consumer insight to come up with a strategic focus where it identified a ‘gap in philanthropic space’. Nike saw the potential in reducing global poverty through an investment in adolescent girls. It keeps its projects away from business operations by channeling its philanthropy efforts in its foundation. The investment in adolescent girls is original and very effective in reducing marginalization of the girl child.

This is evident since after five years in this project, The Nike foundation was able to partner with large organizations such as The World Bank in its banner of "The Girl Effect".IntelIntel has a brilliant philanthropic program known as the "Intel Teach" program. They are capable of tracking the social impact of its philanthropic activities other than just using the output metric which is not perfectly efficient. It has trained at list 8.5 million teachers in 65 different countries. Intel holds itself accountable for changing how teachers use technology in classrooms.

This is second measure of philanthropic competence. 75.4% of its trained teachers intend to apply their newly acquired skills in the classroom. Intel believes measuring its performance in charitable projects is important in order to establish reputation achieved.Goldman SachsPhilanthropic projects of Goldman Sachs are large in scale. Goldman Sachs aims at job creation and economic empowerment rather than giving traditional educational grants. One of its major projects such as "10,000 Women," provides skills such as business education, access to capital and support services for underserved businesswomen in more than 20 countries.

Of the trained, 70% experience sales growth and 50% have created new jobs.Exxon MobilThis was the fifth largest donor in USA in 2010 giving donations worth $198,692,197. Its philanthropic projects mainly focus in the USA where a large part of its customers reside. They involve promotion of science and math subject and women’s economic empowerment. Its international projects include the Exxon Mobil Malaria Initiative where it works in partnership with NGO’s for operational efficiency.KrogerThis company was rated the most generous in USA (2010) funding its philanthropic projects with 10.

9% of its 2009 profits.it targets the community in which it operates in through donations and volunteering, as well as national initiatives through the Kroger Foundation. In 2010, the company spent $64 million in its charity initiatives. In main philanthropic programs include the Food 4 Less program that target the hungry. The company brought up $1.5 million for military families and accepts Salvation Army donation kettles during holiday season.Recommendation In conclusion, the best philanthropic project model that I recommend for our organization is that of Nike foundation.

The foundation is mainly funded by its parent company but also gathers resources form external parties. Its autonomy gives the organization better control over the projects it handles. Nike’s Foundation model begins with conducting an analysis to identify a need based potential project. This helps in reducing overcrowding in sectors such as education which have many players and hence, impact of the project cannot be easily evaluated independently form other company activities. Of importance, this model employs the strengths of a company such as market segmentation and consumer insights in operation of its philanthropic projects.

Evaluation of the results of the projects is important in determining whether they achieve their intended objectives.Work CitedWeeden, Curt. Smart Giving Is Good Business: How Corporate Philanthropy Can Benefit Your Company and Society. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2011. Print.