Dell Inc. and the Dell Foundation

Dell Inc. and its corporate foundation, the Dell Foundation, engaged GPG to help rethink Dell’s overall approach to philanthropy. Dell’s goal was to increase their overall giving, expand giving globally, and do so in a way that would create the most impact.  GPG conducted extensive best practices benchmarking research; dozens of in-depth stakeholder interviews; and developed evidence-based strategic insights to help build the business case for Dell’s commitment to become a “1% company” (1% of annual pre-tax profits to support philanthropy worldwide by 2010). GPG also worked with Dell to detail an implementation plan that would expand Dell’s efforts internationally over the next three to five years. This business-based, quantitative approach – developed hand in hand with Dell’s internal philanthropy staff and with input from Dell’s senior executives – helped Dell define a comprehensive philanthropic strategy that aligns with Dell’s core business, supports and engages Dell’s employees and is designed to create lasting positive impacts on Dell communities worldwide.

GPG also worked with Dell to help define and launch two signature programs underpinning the new strategy -- Dell YouthConnect and Dell GreenConnect – and helped the newly defined Dell Giving team put in place the necessary tracking and assessment mechanisms to provide oversight and monitor progress against strategic objectives.

GPG advisors assisted the Dell Giving team in:

• Creating a clear decision making process for Dell Giving supported by a newly-formed Global Giving Council of Dell executives from around the world;

• Tracking and integrating existing philanthropic efforts to continually improve impact and ensure giving is relevant to Dell's strategic objectives;

• Clarifying foundation and corporate giving initiatives to increase accountability and leverage maximum impact for both foundation and corporate giving;

• Overseeing the initial launch of Dell's YouthConnect program in India and designing a roll-out plan for subsequent launches;

• Prioritizing Dell's philanthropic entry into emerging markets and understanding new cultural and contextual challenges;

• Identifying and conducting due diligence on potential grantees and long-term partners;

• Communicating its corporate philanthropy to key stakeholders, both internally and externally.

Futher Links

To read more about how Dell is transforming its approach to philanthropy, click here

To read the Dell case study in the 2008 Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) Giving in Numbers report, click here

To read the full 2008 Giving in Numbers report, click here