The historic moment of President-elect Barack Obama’s victory in November was not lost on the PEDIGREE Foundation. The organization seized the moment to issue a New York Times ad encouraging Mr. Obama to adopt a shelter dog when fulfilling his campaign promise to daughters Malia and Sasha.

There was a time when green was simply an adjective that described foliage, the wide rolling hills of Ireland, a child’s favorite color in a box of crayons or perhaps the latest fall cashmere sweater. But today, green has an entirely new purpose, and it is serious business. “Green” is now a verb, appealing to the consciousness of people to conserve the world’s natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, find solutions to global warming, and integrate sustainable practices into their daily lives.

As noted in a previous article in onPhilanthropy, the depth of the relationship between a corporation and its nonprofit partner is one way to measure the success of a funder’s investment in a charitable cause. To this end, the Wachovia Corporation’s multi-tiered relationship with Teach For America provides an excellent case study for the ways in which a true partnership can involve more than financial support. onPhilanthropy spoke with Georgette Dixon, Senior Vice President, Manager of National Partnerships, and Dee Lee, Senior Vice President, Outcome Grants Manager, to learn more about Wachovia’s efforts to improve the quality of education in the United States.

Philanthropy headlines and annual studies say it is true: companies that integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs into their overall business strategy are hailed as good corporate citizens. Companies with strong CSR programs often have significant brand strength and a loyal consumer base. However, the verdict is still out on how best to demonstrate the social impact of the millions of dollars invested annually in charitable causes, through cash contributions, employee volunteerism programs, in-kind donations, or sponsorships.