Giving Compass' Take:

• Sophie Hersberger writes a brief report of the first C-Summit, organized by DANFE and EVPA on the strategic alignment between foundations and businesses.

• How can donors facilitate coordination between corporations and their foundations?

• Read about foundations and CSR initiatives that make social change.


The first C-Summit was kicked off by highlighting the need to collaborate and find a common language to unlock the full potential of business-foundation alignment.

Keynote speaker Erik Fyrwald, CEO of Syngenta, shared how they support the Syngenta foundation for sustainable farming by giving them access to know-how, infrastructure, and other resources, Leslie Johnston, executive director of the C&A foundation, spoke about how corporate foundations act and work independently, but can use their affiliation with a company to get a seat at the table and promote systemic change. It seems that businesses and foundations are indeed moving closer together and becoming collaborative partners to promote change.

Karoline Heitmann from EVPA presented a typology of strategic alignment between corporate social investors and their related company. Strategic alignment is much more than aligning on business – there is also thematic, instrumental, or industry alignment.

One of the conclusions of C-Summit was that corporate foundations have the potential and power to get companies talking about key issues our planet faces. Strategic alignment, after all, is a means to an end – yes, we can align on business, industry, instrument, or theme, but eventually we need to align on a mission.

Read the full article about the first C-Summit by Sophie Hersberger at Alliance Magazine.