This internship-based thesis explores the evolving landscape of corporate philanthropy, with a particular focus on the roles and strategies of foundations in driving social and envi-ronmental impact.
During my internship at the Corporate Foundation X, the philanthropic arm of the Global Maritime Conglomerate – a global leader in shipping, logistics, and cruise operations – I had the great opportunity to be part of the programmatic team. My primary responsibilities included establishing a collaborative framework across Global Maritime Conglomerate's three core entities (Cruises, Cargo, and the Foundation) to enhance and align their sustain-ability initiatives. I also contributed to identifying appropriate institutional KPIs, supported efforts in key sustainability areas such as compliance with the CSRD and tackling plastic pollution, assisted with due diligence processes, and managed various administrative tasks.
As corporate foundations increasingly align their missions with social, environmental and business objectives, the need for effective impact evaluation becomes more critical. The research delves into relevant methods of evaluating philanthropic efforts, highlighting their limitations in capturing the true effectiveness of initiatives. It argues for the adoption of multidimensional frameworks that integrate both quantitative and qualitative metrics to as-sess long-term outcomes and broader societal and environmental impacts.
The study also emphasizes the importance of context-specific evaluation methods and stakeholder engagement in enhancing the accuracy and legitimacy of impact assessments. Through detailed case study of the Corporate Foundation X, as well as the Maritime Leisure Company and Cargo sustainability departments, the thesis illustrates how tailored evalua-tion approaches, combined with strategic collaborations can significantly amplify the effec-tiveness of philanthropic activities.
Furthermore, the research identifies a growing need for innovation in philanthropic prac-tices. As societal challenges become more complex, traditional models of giving are often insufficient. The thesis advocates for the integration of new tools and technologies to im-prove the scalability and sustainability of philanthropic initiatives. This will be demonstrated though an historical literature review, complemented by interviews with Global Maritime Conglomerate colleagues.
