2.25.2008 - 09:00am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK - February 25, 2008 – In celebration of National Corporate Philanthropy Day, Deloitte today announced the formal launch of its Problem Solvers Fund, a national grant program that aligns the organization's charitable giving with its strategic approach of leveraging intellectual capital to strengthen the nonprofit sector.

The Problem Solvers Fund provides large-scale grants to support local community initiatives where Deloitte employees are deeply engaged in pro bono and other skills-based volunteer projects to help nonprofit organizations increase their capacity to address critical social issues. In 2008, the Problem Solvers Fund will invest more than $1 million to support these community initiatives.

"We believe Deloitte can create the most meaningful social impact by mobilizing our people's intellectual capital, business skills and professional experience to help nonprofits overcome strategic, operational and financial challenges, in the same way we help our corporate clients," said Barry Salzberg, CEO of Deloitte LLP. "And by contributing sizeable financial donations that reinforce that philosophy, we are aiming to have a long term, sustainable impact in our local communities."

Deloitte personnel across the country can apply for funding to support strategic projects that address significant social issues impacting their communities. To be considered for funding, projects must demonstrate clear and compelling social impact and leverage Deloitte's intellectual capital to address the need, amongst other criteria. The Problem Solvers Fund is a financial complement to Deloitte’s recently announced pro bono initiative.

"In communities throughout the country, Deloitte employees are helping nonprofits become stronger organizations, so they can tackle social problems more effectively," said Evan Hochberg, National Director of Community Involvement, Deloitte Services LP. "The Problem Solvers Fund not only encourages our people to lead with their strengths, it puts the full scope of our resources against their volunteer efforts."

In 2007, Deloitte piloted the Problem Solvers Fund with a $400,000 investment to support ten community-based programs in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

In Washington, D.C., for example, Deloitte volunteers are engaged in a two-year project with the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington to develop and test a strategic plan to define the nonprofit sector's role in disaster response and recovery in the nation’s capital region. No plan currently exists for the nonprofit community which plays a vital role in providing relief and recovery during times of emergency. As part of their solution to addressing this gap, Deloitte and The Roundtable have already convened two forums and conducted mock exercises, attended by more than 100 nonprofit leaders, as part of the information-gathering process that will result in a "roadmap to preparedness" that will guide nonprofits to a higher level of responsiveness and collaboration with each other and the public sector.

And in New York City, Deloitte employees are collaborating with Youth, I.N.C., a nonprofit organization aimed at strengthening other local nonprofits supporting area youth. Deloitte has designed and implemented a series of workshops for nonprofit professionals on topics including board governance, financial management and strategic planning to improve the organizational capacity and effectiveness of the 23 community-based organizations supported by Youth I.N.C. Through this program, Deloitte is helping the nonprofits improve their ability to anticipate and manage operational issues critical to their success.

"Deloitte's Problem Solvers Fund serves as an innovative model of results-oriented corporate community investment," said Charles Moore, Executive Director of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy. "By thoughtfully leveraging financial support with the contribution of world-class professional skills and knowledge, these efforts will pay far more dividends in terms of social impact and business value than cash philanthropy alone."

For more information about Deloitte's Problem Solvers Fund, visit www.deloitte.com.

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