The State of Corporate Philanthropy Today Winter 2004 By Paul A. Di Donato Paul Di Donato is the Executive Director of Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA). Mr. Di Donato leads FCAA's efforts in encouraging and supporting strategic corporate philanthropic responses to HIV/AIDS, both domestically and globally. He is on the National Partners Board of the Business/Labor Responds to AIDS programs and also is a trustee of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, one of the nation’s largest AIDS grantmakers.

Despite current economic conditions, the past several years have witnessed an increase in attention to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic in the public and private sectors. Governments, the United Nations, and businesses are paying more attention to AIDS than ever before. In part, this is because many multinational businesses have come to recognize the profound impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on their workforce—and on their bottom line. Though this attention has yet to translate into the necessary resources to combat HIV/AIDS effectively at all levels, it is a necessary step toward that goal.

The need still exists for corporations to increase their level of philanthropic involvement in HIV/AIDS—both in the United States and globally. Advocates and experts have documented many additional resource needs for HIV/AIDS prevention, care, research, and other needed programs.

Involving corporations in their roles as philanthropic institutions is an integral part of the work to end HIV/AIDS.

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention