Between your donors, volunteers, board members, staff, and clients, you’re in a constant state of relationship-building. And it’s a wonderful thing! You get to forge these awesome, deep connections in order to make a significant change in your community that REALLY matters. But with all the socializing, mixing and mingling, and transactions with your biggest stakeholders, it’s easy to overlook a very valuable asset: nonprofit-corporate partnerships.
I’ve worked with a number of nonprofit organizations, and every single one of them relied on partnerships within the community to fuel their mission. Unfortunately, these relationships weren’t always a priority for my nonprofits. After all, when there are donors to reach and staff to onboard,we’re all stretched pretty thin to begin with; strategic partnerships can get pushed to the wayside.
I can’t emphasize enough how important your corporate partners are for the overall health of your organization. Who are your key corporate partners? How do you foster these relationships? Why do they matter?
Let’s dive into the heart of nonprofit-corporate partnerships and how your nonprofit can use them to benefit your community.
A nonprofit-corporate partnership is a relationship between a nonprofit and for-profit entity in which each agrees to contribute resources to achieve a shared goal. Partnerships help pool resources and expertise, build positive brand association, and expand the reach of programs.
Nonprofit-corporate partnerships can take many forms but the key elements of any successful partnership are trust, communication, shared values, and mutual respect.
You probably partner with others in your community because you see a problem that needs all hands on deck. When everyone gets involved, there’s more buy-in and accountability to meet your goals and make real, long-lasting change.
Nonprofit partnerships matter because they work. From a nonprofit’s perspective, here are some of the key benefits of establishing corporate partnerships:
Building and sustaining a successful nonprofit partnership is more than just a financial transaction. Relationships are a two-way street and corporate partners are likely going to want something in return. Luckily, strategic nonprofit partnerships offer many benefits, making nonprofit partnerships mutually beneficial for both the company and nonprofit.
Your relationships with corporate entities aren’t always one-size-fits-all. There are different types of partnerships with various anticipated outcomes. These are the six main categories of nonprofit partnerships you’re likely to experience.
When we think of nonprofit partnerships, the first thing that comes to mind is probably corporate sponsorships. That’s because corporate sponsorships are one of the most common and visible types of nonprofit partnerships.
Through corporate sponsorships, companies offset the cost of specific programs or an event in return for advertising opportunities. For example, a nonprofit may choose to display the company’s logo or name on event or program materials. Not only does this create a positive brand association for the company but the nonprofit is able to raise the funds needed for their cause or event.
Companies can also donate directly to a nonprofit. Donations typically come in two forms – cash and in-kind. Cash donations directly support the nonprofit’s operations while in-kind donations are non-monetary goods the nonprofit may need such as canned goods or socks. In-kind donations are not limited to physical items either. Individuals can donate specific talents whether it be legal advice or website design.
Workplace-giving programs are company-sponsored programs that allow employees to make donations through payroll deduction. With over $300 billion contributed each year to nonprofits in the United States, $5 billion is contributed through workplace-giving. Workplace-giving programs provide employees with a sense of fulfillment even if they don’t have time to volunteer directly.
While it looks like workplace-giving is here to stay, flexible and remote work has made it more challenging to conduct traditional workplace-place giving programs. Instead, companies are having to get creative with their approach. To encourage employee giving, companies may offer to match the amount raised with a donation of their own.
Going hand in hand with workplace-giving programs are corporate matching gifts that provide employees an opportunity to double their impact by having their donation matched by their employer. While many companies traditionally match at a 1:1 ratio, there are some that will match a 2:1 or even 3:1 ratio. That means for every $10 you give, you could stretch your gift by potentially doubling ($20), tripling ($30), or quadrupling ($40) your initial gift! When donors give, they can submit a request to their employers to match your donation dollar for dollar (or more).
Matching gifts incentivize individuals to donate more to your campaign but corporate matches remain largely untapped. Despite more than 10% of individual donations eligible for corporate matching, only little over 1% are actually matched at the average nonprofit. In fact, 78% of donors are unaware if their company offers matching gift program, which is why it’s so important to promote matching gifts to your audience.
Volunteers are invaluable for nonprofits, making workplace-supported initiatives all the more crucial. Workplace volunteer programs come in all shapes and sizes but these programs are generally hands-on and have volunteers staff public and private events, and do behind-the-scenes work like putting together food boxes.
However, volunteerism can also extend beyond simply cleaning up a public space or serving meals in a soup kitchen. Many nonprofits don’t have access to the resources or funding needed to secure qualified talent with specialized skills, which is where skills-based volunteerism comes in. This form of volunteering has employees donate their professional expertise and technical knowledge in areas such as legal services, strategic planning, and finance.
Volunteering one’s expertise is a great way for employees to make a difference in their communities by doing what they do best and using what they know. In fact, the average hourly value of skills-based volunteering was worth $195 (compared to the hourly value of traditional volunteering, which is $25.43).
A corporate partner may also choose to fundraise on behalf of a nonprofit using cause marketing. In this collaborative partnership model, a company drives sales by promoting products or services where a percentage (or all) of profits go back to the nonprofit. It’s a way for the company to show social responsibility, all while supporting cause that aligns with their values. On the flip side, customers do good with every purchase. With 70% of consumers expecting brands to be socially responsible these days, cause marketing shouldn’t be overlooked.
Another type of nonprofit partnership is through corporate grantmaking. In this model, a company provides financial support through a competitive proposal submission process. Generally, companies operate their grantmaking program through their philanthropic arm. The purpose of these grants are to advance certain charitable causes so they will usually have specific guidelines and focus areas. For instance, company like 3M may opt to fund global humanitarian work while others such as Walmart offer grant funding for projects with a local community impact.
I know you’re eager to start forming partnerships right away, but there’s a process to follow that ensures the bonds you’re making are worth your efforts and mutually beneficial. To find corporate sponsors, the first step is to make a list of potential partners by researching companies that align with your nonprofit’s missions and vision. If there are companies that have supported you in the past, consider re-engaging them. Otherwise, look for companies with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program or those that have supported nonprofits similar to yours.
Pro Tip: GrantStation and Foundation Center are a couple of free online databases to help you weed through corporate funding opportunities.
Follow these 5 considerations as you engage with corporate partners to guarantee maximum effectiveness.
As you form partnerships, consider the needs of your nonprofit. Ask yourself what levels of sponsorships, funding, or volunteering you would need from the corporate partner and what you can provide in return.
If a corporate partner can’t meet your ask entirely, that’s okay. Remember to be flexible and work with them. Once you’ve established a stronger relationship, you can always upgrade your ask over time.
Before you meet with your corporate partner, figure out how to effectively communicate your mission. You can choose to meet one-on-one with potential partners, or schedule a single meeting for every prospective player to attend.
In addition to communicating who you are and what your organization does, outline the problem you want to address and how you think the company can help. Allow time for discussion and provide partners some time to consider the role they can have in the process.
You by no means need all the answers before you show up on Day One. Depending on the length of the meeting, briefly outline the following talking points to present to your potential partner:
If your plan includes volunteer support, use a formal system to help track, manage, and communicate with your volunteers. Volunteer management is a lot of work, but it is especially crucial as you engage more people.
Choosing the right volunteer management software can help streamline things. As a central hub for an organization’s volunteer information, most management systems allow you to manage scheduling, track hours, and send communications all in one.
Having a strong online presence lends legitimacy to your organization meaning companies are more likely to partner with you. When pitching to a potential corporate partner, make sure you highlight your social media platforms and website.
As we’ve mentioned, transparency and communication is key to any successful partnership. Don’t just reach out when you need something. Instead, make it a priority to check-in regularly and let your partners know the impact they’ve made with their contribution, whether it’s volunteer time or funds. Ask the following:
About the Strategy
About the Partnership
Then, use your findings to deepen your relationships and continue using your corporate partnerships strategically.
Corporate partners are essential if you’re looking to make widespread change where you live, work, and play. Spend time developing the relationships through collaboration and shared goals, and remember to evaluate the partnership from time to time to ensure it’s the right fit for everyone involved.
Who are your corporate partners and how are you collaborating for the greater good? We’d love to learn about your strategies for fostering partnerships and using them to advance your mission!
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