More than cheque book philanthropy

HRH The Princess Royal takes part in a London Business School Centre for Management Development panel

Relationships between charity and business should not be measured by the size of the cheque, HRH The Princess Royal told a London Business School audience on 18 March. It is the people who volunteer that make the real difference. Transaid was just one example where volunteers from the transport industry bring vital expertise to relief operations run by organisations such as Save the Children (UK). They transform the efficiency with which relief can be provided and provide a very good example of how businesses can engage with charity. This is not to say, however, that money is not important. Where it is linked to employee giving, it has an added benefit in that people learn more about their charity's activities.

Her Royal Highness was speaking at an event entitled ‘Business and Charity - More Than Just Cheque Book Philanthropy?', hosted by Sir John Ritblat, Chairman of the School's Governing Body, on behalf of the Centre for Management Development. Her Royal Highness was joined by a panel of experts, including Dame Mary Marsh, Director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme and an alumna of the School, Nigel Nicholson, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, and Carol Lake, Head of IB Diversity and Philanthropy in Europe for J P Morgan. The panel was moderated by Mark Malcomson, Director of the Centre for Management Development.