In this episode of the First Day Podcast, host Bill Stanczykiewicz, Ed.D. is joined by Dr. Dwight Burlingame, Professor Emeritus of Philanthropic Studies and Glenn Family Chair in Philanthropy at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Dr. Burlingame, recognized as a pioneer in this field, co-authored Chapter 39 of "Achieving Excellence in Fundraising," which covers the nuances and strategies of business sector fundraising. This episode provided a comprehensive overview, illuminating the historical context, theoretical frameworks, and practical applications of corporate giving to nonprofit organizations.

Historically, corporate giving has evolved significantly, influenced by various models that Dr. Burlingame and his peers have identified through extensive research since 1996. Four primary models were highlighted: corporate responsibility, ethical and altruistic, political, and stakeholder. The corporate responsibility model underscores a company's societal obligations, linking its community contributions to its core mission of profitability. The ethical and altruistic model debates the true nature of altruism in corporate giving, focusing on community well-being. The political model explores corporate giving as a means to gain political advantage, either internally within the company or externally. Lastly, the stakeholder model, which has gained popularity over the last three decades, emphasizes the importance of considering all stakeholders of a company, including customers, vendors, and employees, and how these relationships intertwine with the company's overall business strategy.

The discussion also ventured into the practical realm, addressing how nonprofits can effectively approach and engage with the business sector for fundraising. Emphasizing the alignment of nonprofit missions with corporate philanthropic values, the podcast underlined the importance of developing a strategic fundraising plan that caters specifically to the business sector. This involves understanding the historical and current philanthropic activities of companies and identifying common points of contact, such as shared vendors or board members. The episode concluded with the notion that understanding and aligning with the various philanthropic motivations of businesses can greatly enhance the effectiveness of fundraising efforts in the nonprofit sector.