Deloitte CEO and CGO: Speaking a Common Language
Barry Salzberg
CEO, Deloitte LLP
Evan Hochberg
National Director, Community Involvement, Deloitte Services LP
Stacy Palmer
Editor, The Chronicle of Philanthropy (Moderator)
Key Takeaways:
- One of the cornerstones of a corporate giving officer’s success in the role is the commitment to deliver a robust business case for every idea that is presented. Every new program idea that Evan shares with Barry is accompanied by a financial model, impact assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and a clear connection to the larger priorities of the business.
- CEOs are not looking for one-off programs but truly integrated programs. To gain buy-in across the company, a giving officer should sell proposed initiatives executive-by-executive across the firm. When speaking to these internal business leaders, giving professionals need to make it clear that they understand the fundamental business issues and implications of their proposals.
- Corporate giving professionals need the ability to operate like any other business leader in the company. Evan refers to this as “a license to operate,” allowing him to make decisions and talk directly with key internal stakeholders to build the needed consensus across the firm for new programs and projects.
Links:
> Deloitte Community Involvement
> 2009 Deloitte Volunteer Impact Survey
> Wall Street Journal, "Deloitte CEO: Business Case for Philanthropy"
> The Chronicle of Philanthropy
> Session Notes (PDF)
