Corporate philanthropy has had, and continues to have, a positive impact on the HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing and treatment efforts in the United States and abroad. Organizational philanthropic efforts can and should be coupled with commitments to advance and address HIV prevention and awareness in the workplace and organizational willingness to think collaboratively, strategically, and innovatively about how to address HIV proactively to promote and ensure a healthy workforce and a vibrant community.
In 2005, the total estimated support from the top 15 philanthropic organizations addressing HIV/AIDS was $72.2 million, which took the form of 2,034 grants, and represented 20% of the total estimated HIV/AIDS U.S. philanthropy for that year. Table 1 reveals the top 15 corporate foundations and giving programs in 2005 as identified by Funder Concerned About AIDS (www.fcaaids.org).
Table 1. Top 15 HIV/AIDS Givers among Corporate Foundations and Giving Programs, 2005
| Corporation | Amount |
| Abbott Laboratories Fund, IL | 23,933,226 |
| The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Inc., NY | 10,706,465 |
| M•A•C AIDS Fund and M•A•C Cosmetics, NY | 9,122,623 |
| Merck Company Foundation and Merck & Co., Inc., NJ | 8,340,000 |
| Johnson & Johnson, NJ | 7,800,000 |
| Levi Strauss Foundation, CA | 2,230,158 |
| The Pfizer Foundation, Inc., NY | 2,000,000 |
| Altria Group, Inc., NY | 1,672,500 |
| ExxonMobil Foundation, TX | 1,616,000 |
| The Wells Fargo Foundation, CA | 1,470,175 |
| Gilead Foundation, CA | 1,127,500 |
| Coca-Cola Africa Foundation | 731,536 |
| The Prudential Foundation, NJ | 650,000 |
| Avon Foundation, NY | 475,000 |
| Federated Department Stores Foundation, OH | 354,900 |
| Total $ | 72,230,083 |
Growing awareness of the critical role the private sector plays in prevention, awareness, testing, and treatment has led the private sector to begin addressing HIV on its own terms and in ways that provide the greatest impact. When addressing HIV in the workplace, an organization makes a commitment to the health and well-being of its employees, members, shareholders and customers, and reframes the issue from HIV a disease that affects others, to HIV being a concern of everyone.
By tapping into their core competencies, organizations can use their strengths to address HIV/ADS by leveraging market forces, resources, and customer insights through innovative approaches.
Sizable direct support in the form of grants or cash contributions is not the only way organizations can have a positive impact on HIV prevention in their communities. Other ways organizations can benefit their communities include:
Corporate philanthropy enhances the image of organizations in the eyes of their employees, members, and communities. Organizations that take leadership positions against AIDS demonstrate that they care about the welfare of their employees or members and that they are responsible members of their communities.
