STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY - AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CORPORATIONS AND HEALTH HUMAN-SERVICE AGENCIES

The study is a national survey of corporate philanthropy programs. The original problem underlying the study is the long-term decline in the percentage of total corporate contributions to health and human servi ces. A questionnaire, mailed in May of 1993, was used to investigate t he impact of strategic philanthropy on the relationship between corpor ations and health/human service organizations. Corporations strategica lly prioritizing their philanthropic support were expected to create n ew opportunities for partnerships between business and health/human se rvice agencies. The survey resulted in a sample of 226 corporations. T he results showed statistically significant support for the hypothesis that highly strategic philanthropy programs will be move likely to en ter into a health/human service partnership than less strategic progra ms. The multiple regression analysis method was used to control for th e effects of corporate size, industry type, the (corporate) contributi ons management organization, and United Way credibility. Based upon th e results of the study, United Way is recommended to consider new role s for itself as a facilitator of partnerships between business and hea lth/human service organizations.