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Nonprofit Leader Says Satell Institute Is Driving Transformation of Corporate Giving from
“One and Done” Relationship to Deeper Partnership
October 17, 2019
Matthew Aaron is the CEO of Special Olympics Pennsylvania and a member of the Advisory Board for the Satell Institute’s Central Pennsylvania expansion effort.
INsight asked Matt what drew him into active involvement with the Satell Institute.
Matt, what first caught your attention about the Institute?
Matt responded: “It was immediately clear… the idea of connecting CEOs with each other and connecting the corporate and not-for-profit sectors for four-year projects was an ‘aha moment’ for me. I knew this organization was going to fill critical needs.”
As a key nonprofit leader, Matt has attended SI‘s CEO conferences and believes that SI is providing CEOs the ability to create disciplined and strategic CSR programs that benefit the community, fully integrated into the business models of their companies. He argues that this way of thinking encouraged and enabled by SI pushes CSR beyond “a fad, or something done for public relations.”
What do you see as SI’s impact?
“The Satell Institute is advancing the idea that CSR is an inherent part of today’s business world, and must be approached with the same seriousness of planning and purpose as every aspect in the life of a corporation.”
About the geographic expansion of the Institute to central Pennsylvania, and beyond, Matt believes that there is nothing local about either the idea or the need behind the work of the Satell Institute and it is therefore absolutely natural for corporate and nonprofit communities all across the country to take up and benefit from this model.
“Lots of great things in American history have started in Philadelphia, and Ed Satell has just given us another one.”
Can you speak about your nonprofit, Special Olympics?
Matt describes the mission of Special Olympics Pennsylvania as providing sports training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. But the vision goes much deeper … it is to empower people with intellectual disabilities to lead healthy and fulfilling lives as respected members of a more inclusive society, which includes preparing employers and our broader communities to welcome these folks as members.
The Satell Institute is helping Special Olympics Pennsylvania fulfill this worthwhile mission by building the scale, and improving the effectiveness, of corporate CSR efforts in the commonwealth and by helping extraordinary not-for-profits like Special Olympics secure partnerships for long-term support.
What are your takeaways from your involvement with SI?
Matt believes the Satell Institute is driving a transformation of corporate giving from transactional, “one and done“, relationships to deeper partnerships over time.
“Whenever I attend a meeting of the Satell Institute, whether a conference or a board gathering,” Matt said, “I always leave inspired.”