Engagement Tactics, Resources

October 14, 2024

Imagine that your nonprofit expanded your reach to hundreds or even thousands of new supporters overnight. Corporate partnerships can be instrumental in boosting nonprofits’ mission, enabling them to better serve their community, reach goals and gain more supporters almost instantly. However, creating new partnerships with companies can be a challenge.

How can fundraisers find the right corporate partners, create relationships and maintain long-term partnerships? Companies often reevaluate their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals in the new year, so now is a great time to begin conversations and identify ways to work together in the year ahead. If your nonprofit has existing partnerships, consider deepening those corporate partnerships.

One of the most important factors nonprofits must remember throughout their relationship with a corporate partner is to ensure that goals are aligned between your organization and the corporation. If a partnership with a company is pulling your nonprofit away from making progress on your mission or reducing your impact, it’s probably best to pursue other partnership opportunities that will more closely align with your values and benefit your community.

Here are nine tips for nonprofits to identify new corporate partnerships.

1. Review Workplace Giving in Your CRM

Almost 27 million Americans have access to workplace giving programs. Using your CRM, understand how to identify donors who are giving through workplace-giving programs. If there are multiple donors from one company, there may be an opportunity to expand the relationship. Use that data to support personalized outreach tactics based on existing employee relationships.

2. Research Companies With a Local Presence

Identify businesses in your area, whether that’s their headquarters or local operations. Companies often prioritize supporting local nonprofits, so reach out for a coffee or virtual meeting to learn more about their CSR goals and how your organizations can create a mutually beneficial partnership.

3. Review Businesses’ CSR Goals

Companies often share their CSR goals in annual reports on their website. Reviewing these reports can help fundraisers identify companies with similar values and is a great start for building lasting partnerships. By highlighting how the two organizations’ values align, nonprofits can position themselves as a valuable partner to a company to help them work toward their CSR goals.

4. Lean on Your Network

Work together to identify purpose-driven companies. Brainstorm with your team, and ask neighbors, friends, etc., if they have business connections that may be interested in engaging in a nonprofit partnership. Your personal network can be instrumental in connecting you with the right people.

5. Create Volunteer Events Specifically Targeting Corporate Volunteers

This can include a day of services with a boots-on-the-ground approach or a longer term engagement with companies willing to participate in skills-based volunteering efforts. Volunteer opportunities, especially when done regularly and designed with the corporate partner, can have a profound impact on your nonprofit and result in powerful, lasting partnerships.

6. Invite Companies to an Open House

Open houses are an excellent opportunity to showcase the benefit of your nonprofit, the communities you serve, your reach and your impact. Use that time to identify ways your organizations can collaborate and make progress toward separate and shared goals.

7. Identify Companies That Sponsor Community Events

Companies that sponsor local events are often open to other CSR initiatives, including nonprofit support. Watch for events in your area and note which companies have an active presence.

8. Be Open to Different Partnership Types

Because each business has different priorities, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to corporate-nonprofit partnerships. Consider different partnership types that can offer mutually beneficial outcomes for the company and your nonprofit, and work together to develop the right partnership.

9. Keep Trying

If a company you think will be a good partner is unwilling or unable to enter a partnership now, keep the lines of communication open. Continue to be an engaged member of their community, invite them to volunteer events, open houses, etc., so they can continue to see the impact of your work on the community.

Corporate partnerships can help nonprofits access valuable resources to expand their impact. By following these tips, nonprofits can identify companies that have the potential to be valuable partners. These partnerships can help nonprofits gather their resources and work toward achieving their mission.