Strategic Philanthropy

Moen Incorporated

How can we maximize our community investment dollars and employee volunteer time?
To what organizations does it make sense for us to give?
Should we make small contributions to many community organizations, or larger contributions to fewer organizations?

These are some of the questions Moen Incorporated asked when they called BrownFlynn. In partnership with Moen’s Corporate Giving Committee, BrownFlynn analyzed Moen’s community involvement and giving practices. Through an intensive discovery process, BrownFlynn reviewed the Company’s core values, core competencies, employee volunteer history, internal and external communications, budget and funding cycles, and the external community and environment. The assessment also involved a careful review and analysis of hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout Northeast Ohio that could potentially serve as community partners with Moen.

The strategic philanthropy plan BrownFlynn developed included a Community Investment Program specific to Moen’s strategic business objectives. Our work helped the company enhance brand and reputation, complement other marketing and advertising efforts, create strategic alliances with non-profits and demonstrate the company's commitment to diversity.

Sky Bank

When Sky Bank (now Huntington Bank) entered the Cleveland market a few years ago, it sought to make an immediate, discernible mark upon the community. However, the Bank was overwhelmed with requests for support from a multitude of organizations and had no strategy for engaging the Bank and its employees in the community. With strong support from the CEO, Sky hired BrownFlynn to help the Bank develop a strategic philanthropy plan, including a signature program – SkyServes.

Sky focuses its strategic philanthropy in three areas to improve the quality of life in Sky Bank communities – financial education, small business development and growth, and neighborhood development. BrownFlynn designed, trained and engaged a 12-member strategic philanthropy committee to review contribution requests and implement strategies to increase employee volunteerism, leverage Sky’s investments in community organizations and measure impact.

As a result of Sky’s strategic philanthropy plan, cause-related marketing and supporting activities, the Bank improved its CRA ratings, positioned itself to meet growing needs and exceeded expectations – in financial performance and philanthropy.