February 26, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
What can corporate philanthropy teach individual donors?
The Wallet, a Wall Street Journal blog about personal finance, asked that question to three corporate leaders — Christina Gold, chief executive of the Western Union Company; Steve Case, co-founder of America Online and chairman of the Case Foundation; and Sidney Taurel, chairman emeritus of Eli Lilly & Company.
Mr. Case suggested that donors have a personal connection to the causes they support. For example, he has contributed to cancer research in part because his brother died of the disease.
Ms. Gold suggested donors do thorough vetting of charities, and Mr. Taurel said that with the tight economy hurting household budgets, Americans should consider volunteering more.
Journal reporter Mike Spector and Dow Jones Newswires reporter Shelly Banjo spoke with the three leaders during the annual meeting of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy.
Read The Chronicle’s article about the gathering in New York.
What do you think? What lessons does corporate giving have for individual donors?
