Given the enormous and growing societal needs in the border region, there is a compelling need to expand the level of corporate giving in the border region. A healthy philanthropic climate goes hand in hand with healthy communities.

As this study has clearly demonstrated, there are several structural impediments that are inhibiting the level of corporate giving along Mexico’s northern border. Among the biggest impediments is Mexico’s current tax code, which discourages maquiladora operators from giving. Given the potential benefits that could be derived from addressing this overlooked idiosyncrasy in the Mexican fiscal regime, this is a provision that needs to be changed. Beyond changes in Mexico’s tax code, it is clear that perceptions by companies operating maquiladoras as well as border area nonprofits need to change.  

On one hand, U.S. and third country multinationals operating in the border region needs to take more pro-active steps to invest more time and money in the communities where they operate and where they do business. This is not a good thing to do for any company these days that wants to be socially responsible but it will also go a long way to improve the level of employee retention and loyalty which is an on-going problem with so many maquiladoras along the entire border.

On the other hand, border-area nonprofits need to meet companies half way. Nonprofits need to provide companies with greater transparency, improved reporting and be more pro-active in better understanding the specific needs of corporate donors. Unless border-area NGOs take this first step, corporate giving along the border will continue to lag.

Philanthropic institutions can and should do more.    US community foundations need to re-examine their roles and begin expanding their missions beyond their traditional country boundaries.   If that were the case, then U.S. companies might be more apt to use them as intermediary vehicles to support nonprofits in their neighboring border communities and the quality of life in their own binational region would be better for it.   Here, the El Paso Community Foundation is a leader even though at present its cross-border giving to Cd. Juarez is modest.

While, in general, corporate giving in the border region does continue to lag when compared to other major industrial regions of Mexico or the United States, the border is fortunate with many exemplary companies, such as Mattel, Johnson & Johnson, Sony, Medtronic, Kyocera and GM, that are leading by example and through their generosity of time, money and experience they are showing others the way.