I have started The Charity-Corporate Connection because of the experiences I have gained serving on the board of directors of several nonprofits. In the capacity of board member, I have seen the immense need of nonprofits to find funding in order to carry out the mission. My work and interest in nonprofit issues have also led me to obtain a Master of Science degree in Nonprofit Management from New School University (New York, NY).
To raise monies nonprofits hold fund raisers, send out direct mail letters, place print advertisements, run capital campaigns, write grants to foundations and governmental bodies, create businesses (both non- and for-profit), and form alliances/partnerships with corporations.
Alliances/partnerships are of particular interest for me because of the board work with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) http://www.aidshealthorg/. I intend to 1) share news stories of nonprofit-corporation alliances, partnerships, and programs, and 2) to track those collaborations and ideally report on the successes/benefits.
Background
When I joined the board in 2000 AHF had recently launched its global program. The AHF goal was ambitious: to have 100,000 people in treatment in 30 countries. Though AHF had been in operation for over ten years, it was new to the global scene so securing funding, especially from governmental sources, was a challenge. Infrastructure was also a concern. Because AHF is a Los Angeles, California based organization, it has to set up operations in other countries in order to provide treatment and access to care. Linking up with local non-governmental (NGO) partners, such as Uganda Cares, is one solution as to how to provide patient care in far flung settings.
But, while doing course work to obtain the Nonprofit Management degree, I came across another potential source of assistance - the corporate sector. I learned that many corporations in resource-poor countries provide employees (and sometimes family members) with access to healthcare including HIV treatment and medications. Businesses, especially those that are Africa-based or that have significant holdings in Africa, have realized the financial and social impacts that HIV/AIDS has not only on the bottom line and on the physical health of workers, worker's family members, customers and the general populace. A 2002 survey by Deloitte and Touche survey earlier reported that roughly half of South Africa's bigger firms had a formal HIV/AIDS policy. As the number of people with AIDS grew, firms experienced a loss of productivity, low morale, absenteeism, and the death of workers aged between 20 and 40.
Because AHF and these corporations are managing the substantial costs in delivering HIV/AIDS care and medications, there appeared to be an opportunity for collaboration. AHF's wealth of knowledge in the delivery of "best practice" HIV/AIDS care could be shared with corporations via affiliations or contractual arrangements. AHF has invaluable experience with setting up highly efficient, low-cost clinics and these business models can be shared with companies who wish to provide HIV/AIDS care.
Some of the companies that came to my attention are:
Eksom, South Africa: Eskon has an HIV/AIDS Programme that "consists of various initiatives. According to a company document, these include Prevention & Awareness, Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), Care and Support as well as Partnerships in Action. Immune Modulating Therapy as well as anti-retroviral therapies are being case-managed while day-to-day monitoring ensues on a continuous basis." www.eskom.co.za/content/Response_to_HIV_AIDS%5B1%5D.doc
Daimler Chrysler South Africa: DSCA has a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and care program for its employees and their families in South Africa. On its website, the company has posted its commitment of HIV/AIDS care: "Managing HIV and Aids is core business for DaimlerChrysler in South Africa. The HIV and Aids Workplace Programme of the DaimlerChrysler Group of Companies in South Africa aims at effectively addressing the development challenge posed by HIV and Aids to DaimlerChrysler employees, their families, business operations, and economic and social development more broadly. The DaimlerChrysler South Africa HIV and Aids Workplace Programme:
- Extends quality prevention, treatment, care and support to employees, their dependants and the community
- Reflects the corporation's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility
- Progressively manages the increasing financial and human resource management impacts associated with HIV and Aids"
http://www.daimlerchrysler.co.za/social/aids/index.asp
Anglo Coal South Africa (parent company Anglo American): Anglo Coal devised an AIDS prevention and disease management program. In fact, Anglo Coal was recently recognized by the Global Business Coalition for its HIV/AIDS efforts. An Anglo American 6/23/09 press release states that "All Anglo Coal employees are actively encouraged to test annually, with senior members of the management team taking HIV tests in public to lead by example. Employees who test positive can enrol in a free HIV management program offering care, support and treatment...Anglo American was the first large company in South Africa to offer free anti-retroviral treatment to all employees back in 2002. There are currently 7,300 employees enrolled in the HIV disease management program across all Group companies in South Africa." http://www.angloamerican.co.uk/aa/media/releases/2009pr/2009-06-23/
