I’ve come up with four principles that have helped us to be better corporate do-gooders. The first is to take the time to do the research. Just like a business partnership, mutual understanding and shared values and beliefs are the basis of a sound long-term and fruitful charity partnership.

SC Lowy has grown its support from a fundraising event in Nepal (a race – no surprise there) to ultimately joining the EMpower board this year. Starting small, learning and developing loyalty and commitment over time builds comfort that funds donated are used most efficiently.

As a small firm focused on Europe and emerging markets in Asia, we were looking for an organisation with expertise in these countries. EMpower also spoke to us because it was started by professionals in the finance industry, many of whom were also looking to give back where they have built their careers. Finding the right partner means knowing what you are looking for, doing the research, and building the relationship slowly.

The second principle is to see yourself as an investor, not a donor. Thinking about yourself as an investor in an organisation rather than a donor to a charity changes the way you view your involvement. It also changes the way your chosen charity sees you. Making an investment, we focus on returns and accountability. In donation, we tend not to spend as much time in such evaluation.

Making an investment, we are in a longer-term scenario. Making a donation, we are often working in the moment. The approach and the outcomes for the firms and the recipient non-profits are usually very different.

The next principle is to realise that the theory of change is standard operating practice.

Just like a business, a charity or foundation should have clearly thought through the difference it wants to make, and how it will go about achieving that difference. It should have a plan for tracking whether its objectives are being met and a way to measure success. It then needs to repeat that evaluation process regularly, to see whether its goals need to be updated or changed.

For us, a foundation structure like EMpower makes sense. Operating a little like a fund of funds for social organisations, the goal is simple – to shift the trajectory of the lives of at-risk youth in emerging markets. The strategy is simple – a focus on women, children and education initiatives. Tactically, this means finding locally-led, grassroots organisations who are in a better position to know the context, issues and players and how best to support youth in their communities.

These are tough for investors like us to find – hence the foundation structure. Along with phased grants/financial support to these board-vetted quality organisations that can last up to 10 years, EMpower develops substantive partnerships that foster the grantee organisations’ growth and fuel innovative, results-oriented programmes.

Goal, strategy, plan, measurement, evaluation, results. Check, check, check, check, check and check. In non-profit circles, they call this the theory of change. In business, we hope it is standard operating practice. Make sure your chosen charity is practicing a sensible theory of change.

The final principle is that the engagement should be meaningful to your firm and engage your staff.

Our business is focused on the deep-value segment of the market so it is not surprising we are interested in organisations that operate close to the recipients of aid themselves and are not afraid of getting down and dirty. EMpower creates a vehicle for us to do that. Given our board underwrites the foundation’s costs, many of us also visit EMpower-funded local organisations and meet the programme’s young beneficiaries to witness first-hand how their giving is making a difference. Having a highly energised and involved leadership group in EMpower’s three boards translates into commitments of not just money, but also time and expertise. The result is quality throughout.

Michel Lowy is co-founder and chief executive of SC Lowy