Securing corporate funding can feel like trying to solve a complex puzzle without the instruction manual. You know the support is out there, but it’s hard to know where to start. The truth is, most companies follow a clear path when deciding how and where to give. They build a corporate philanthropy program that aligns their mission with community needs, gets their team on board, and measures their impact. This article pulls back the curtain on that process. By understanding how companies think about giving, you can stop guessing and start building authentic, long-term relationships that provide sustainable support for your mission.
Key Takeaways
- Frame your nonprofit as a strategic solution: Companies want partners who can help them meet their own goals, like improving brand reputation and engaging employees. Show them how supporting your mission is a win for their business, not just a donation.
- Focus on long-term partnership, not one-time transactions: Turn a single donation into a lasting relationship by providing regular updates, clear impact reports, and public recognition. This consistent communication builds trust and shows you value them beyond their financial contribution.
- Be an active and prepared partner: Make it easy for a company to support you by coming to the table with clear options. Offer specific volunteer opportunities, provide compelling stories for their marketing, and deliver clean data that proves the impact of their investment.
What Is a Corporate Philanthropy Program?
When you hear "corporate philanthropy," you might picture a giant check presentation, but these programs are so much more than a one-time donation. Think of them as a company's dedicated plan to make a positive impact on the world. These are strategic initiatives that businesses create to support communities, often in ways that align with their own values and business goals. For your nonprofit, this means corporate partners aren't just potential funders; they are collaborators looking to build meaningful, long-term relationships that go beyond a single campaign.
Understanding how these programs work is the first step to finding the right corporate partners for your cause. A well-designed program moves beyond simple charity and becomes a core part of a company's identity. It’s a commitment to using their resources, influence, and employee talent to create real change. When you can speak their language and show how your mission fits into their philanthropic strategy, you open the door to more sustainable support. By tapping into these initiatives, you can find new sources of funding, volunteers, and brand awareness that can help you advance your mission in powerful ways. This is about finding alignment, not just asking for a check.
The Core Components
At its heart, corporate philanthropy is a company's strategic commitment to creating a meaningful social impact. It’s not just about giving away money; it’s about investing in the well-being of the communities where they operate and their employees live. A strong program is built on a clear purpose that connects the company’s values to its charitable activities.
These initiatives are designed to be mutually beneficial. They help nonprofits like yours achieve critical goals while also helping the company build a positive reputation and engage its workforce. The most effective programs are woven into the company's culture, showing a genuine desire to strengthen communities while also advancing their own organizational objectives. This strategic approach ensures that the partnership is sustainable and impactful for everyone involved.
Common Program Types
Corporate philanthropy isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. Companies express their commitment in a variety of ways, and knowing the different models can help you identify the best partners for your organization. Some of the most common forms of corporate philanthropy include direct monetary donations, in-kind gifts of products or services, and employee volunteer grants.
Many companies also offer matching gift programs, where they match their employees' personal donations to eligible nonprofits, effectively doubling the contribution. Others focus on cause-related marketing, where a portion of sales from a specific product is donated to a nonprofit partner. By understanding these different structures, you can better tailor your outreach to companies whose programs align with your needs and goals.
Misconceptions to Leave Behind
It’s easy to fall for a few common myths about corporate giving. One major misconception is that all corporate philanthropy is strategic. In reality, many companies’ efforts can be disconnected, making their investments feel less effective. This is why finding a partner with a clear, focused mission is so important for a successful collaboration.
Another harmful myth is that donations should only go toward programs and never cover overhead costs. This idea can seriously undermine the effectiveness of a nonprofit by starving it of the resources needed for essential operations like staffing, rent, and technology. Forward-thinking corporate partners understand that funding operational expenses is vital for creating sustainable impact. Don’t be afraid to have honest conversations about what it truly costs to run your organization and deliver on your mission.
Why Does Corporate Philanthropy Matter?
Corporate philanthropy is much more than a simple act of charity; it’s a strategic approach that benefits everyone involved. For companies, it’s a powerful way to build a positive brand, engage their workforce, and make a real difference in the world. For nonprofits, understanding these motivations is the key to unlocking meaningful, long-term partnerships. When a company decides to invest in a cause, it’s not just writing a check. It’s aligning its values with your mission, creating a powerful synergy that can amplify your impact far beyond what a single donation could accomplish.
Thinking about corporate giving from this perspective helps you position your nonprofit as an ideal partner. You’re not just asking for help; you’re offering a company the chance to fulfill its own strategic goals. By partnering with you, they can enhance their reputation, foster a more dedicated team, and create a tangible, positive legacy in the community. This creates a sustainable relationship where the company’s success and your mission’s success become intertwined. It’s a win-win that transforms corporate resources into community progress, driven by shared values and a common vision for a better world.
Build Brand Reputation and Trust
In a world full of choices, people want to support businesses that do good. A strong corporate philanthropy program shows that a company is committed to more than just its bottom line. It’s a public declaration of their values and their dedication to making a meaningful social impact. When a business actively supports a cause, it builds a reputation for being a positive force in the community, which helps it earn the trust of customers, clients, and stakeholders.
This is a strategic move for any company. By investing in philanthropic efforts, businesses cultivate a positive public image and strengthen their brand identity. For nonprofits, this is a huge opportunity. When a well-respected company aligns with your cause, their credibility and positive reputation can extend to your organization, bringing you increased visibility and support. It shows the world that your mission is one worth investing in.
Improve Employee Engagement and Retention
People want their work to have meaning. A job is more than just a paycheck; it’s a place where they spend a huge portion of their lives, and they want to feel proud of where they work. Corporate philanthropy programs give employees a direct way to connect with their company’s values and contribute to a greater purpose. Initiatives like volunteer days, matching gift programs, and community-wide Facebook Challenges allow team members to get hands-on with causes they care about.
This sense of shared purpose is a game-changer for company culture. It fosters a more connected and motivated workforce, which directly leads to higher employee satisfaction and lower turnover rates. When you partner with a company, you’re not just getting financial support; you’re gaining a team of passionate advocates. These engaged employees are more likely to become dedicated volunteers, fundraisers, and long-term supporters of your mission.
Create a Lasting Community Impact
At its heart, corporate philanthropy is about creating real, sustainable change. These programs are strategic initiatives designed to strengthen communities by channeling corporate resources toward pressing social needs. When a company partners with a nonprofit, it’s making a long-term investment in the well-being of the community where its employees and customers live and work. This commitment goes beyond a one-time donation; it’s about building a legacy of positive impact.
By supporting your work, companies help ensure the long-term sustainability of their own operations by contributing to a healthier, more vibrant community. This is where your mission and their goals perfectly align. When you make a compelling case for partnership, you’re showing them how their support can translate into measurable outcomes that strengthen the entire community. It’s a powerful collaboration that turns corporate values into tangible, lasting results for everyone.
How to Build a Corporate Philanthropy Program
Creating a corporate philanthropy program isn't just about writing a check; it's a thoughtful process that, when done right, creates a powerful ripple effect for the company, its employees, and the community. For nonprofits, understanding this process is key to finding and building strong corporate partnerships. When you know what potential partners are looking for, you can position your organization as the perfect fit for their goals.
A company's journey into philanthropy usually follows a clear path, from defining its purpose to measuring its impact. They aren't just giving randomly. They're looking for partners who align with their values and can help them make a tangible difference. By seeing the world from their perspective, you can stop making cold asks and start building authentic, long-term relationships. Let's walk through the six key steps companies take to build their programs, so you can see exactly where your nonprofit can connect.
Step 1: Align Your Mission with Community Needs
The strongest corporate philanthropy programs begin with a simple question: "How can we help in a way that reflects who we are?" Companies start by looking for causes that resonate with their core values and address real needs in the communities where their employees and customers live and work. A tech company might focus on STEM education, while a food brand might support hunger relief initiatives.
For your nonprofit, this means doing your homework. Before reaching out, research a company's mission and values. See what causes they've supported in the past. This initial alignment is non-negotiable for most businesses, as it ensures their philanthropic efforts are authentic and sustainable, not just a one-off donation.
Step 2: Choose the Right Program Type
Corporate giving isn't one-size-fits-all. While financial donations are common, companies contribute in many other ways. They might offer in-kind donations, like providing free software or office supplies. They could also organize employee volunteer programs, where their team gives time and skills to support your cause. Other popular options include matching gift programs, where a company matches its employees' personal donations, and grantmaking.
Understanding these different forms of support helps you tailor your ask. Instead of only requesting funds, consider what else your organization needs. Could you benefit from skilled volunteers or donated products? Presenting a variety of partnership options makes it easier for a company to say yes and find a way to contribute that fits its structure and resources.
Step 3: Set Your Budget and Allocate Resources
Every company, from a small local business to a multinational corporation, has to work within a budget. Philanthropic efforts require dedicated resources, both financial and human, and these need to be planned for. A company will decide how much it can realistically allocate to its giving program annually, which influences the scale and type of partnerships it can form.
This is an important reality for nonprofits to keep in mind. A company might be passionate about your mission but have limited funds available. This is why having a tiered list of needs is so valuable. If your top-tier funding request is out of reach, you can present other opportunities for partnership, like a smaller sponsorship or an in-kind donation. It shows you're flexible and committed to finding a way to work together.
Step 4: Get Your Team on Board
Modern corporate philanthropy is deeply connected to employee engagement. Companies know that giving back makes work more meaningful and helps build a positive culture. They actively look for ways to involve their employees, whether through volunteer days, fundraising challenges, or donation matching. When employees feel personally connected to a cause, their engagement with the company’s mission grows.
This is a huge opportunity for your nonprofit. When you approach a potential corporate partner, highlight the ways their team can get involved. Offer compelling, hands-on volunteer experiences or show them how a Facebook Challenge could unite their employees around a common goal. By making it easy for their team to participate, you become a much more attractive partner.
Step 5: Launch and Promote Your Program
Once a program is in place, companies want to share the story of their impact. But today, it’s about more than just a press release. The focus has shifted from PR-driven announcements to authentic storytelling that highlights the real-world difference being made. Companies want to share genuine stories of change that resonate with their employees, customers, and stakeholders.
As a nonprofit partner, you are the source of these stories. You can help a company promote its program by providing powerful testimonials, compelling images, and data that illustrates the impact of its support. This creates a win-win: the company gets authentic content that builds its brand reputation, and your organization gains valuable exposure. This kind of collaborative storytelling strengthens the partnership and demonstrates its value to the world.
Step 6: Measure and Report Your Impact
To justify their philanthropic efforts and secure ongoing support from leadership, companies need to see a return on their investment. This doesn't mean a financial return, but a social one. They need to measure and report on the impact of their contributions. How many lives were changed? How much was raised for a critical project? How many volunteer hours were completed?
For nonprofits, this means being diligent about tracking your outcomes and providing clear, concise reports to your corporate partners. The more effectively you can demonstrate the tangible results of their support, the more likely they are to continue and even grow the partnership. Data-driven reporting proves the value of your work and builds the trust needed for a lasting relationship.
What Makes a Corporate Philanthropy Program Successful?
A successful corporate philanthropy program is more than just a line item in a company's budget. It’s a dynamic, living partnership that creates real value for the business, its employees, and the nonprofit partner. When these programs work, they feel less like a transaction and more like a true collaboration. The difference between a good program and a great one often comes down to a few key ingredients: authenticity, commitment from the top, open communication, and clear, honest reporting. For nonprofits, understanding these elements is crucial for identifying and building lasting corporate partnerships that drive meaningful change. When you find a company that checks these boxes, you're not just getting a check; you're gaining a powerful advocate for your mission. These are the partners who will go the extra mile, mobilizing their teams for your fundraising events and sharing your story with their networks. They become an extension of your team, invested in your success because they see it as their own. This is the kind of partnership that creates sustainable, long-term impact, moving beyond one-off campaigns to build something truly meaningful together.
Authentic Cause Alignment
The strongest partnerships are built on a foundation of shared values. A corporate philanthropy program succeeds when it reflects a company’s genuine commitment to a cause that resonates with its brand, employees, and customers. It’s not about picking a charity at random; it’s about finding a mission that aligns with the company’s core identity. As one expert puts it, corporate philanthropy should be a "strategic commitment to creating meaningful social impact." When a company truly believes in your cause, its support will feel natural and heartfelt, making it easier to rally its employees and customers behind your mission. This authenticity is the spark that turns a simple donation into a powerful, long-term alliance.
Leadership Buy-In
For a corporate giving program to have a real impact, it needs enthusiastic support from the top. When company leaders are personally invested, they champion the partnership internally, dedicate meaningful resources, and inspire employees to get involved. This executive sponsorship is a clear sign that the company’s commitment is more than just for show. A company needs to be authentic in its philanthropy to be transparent, and that authenticity starts with its leaders. When you see executives participating in volunteer days, speaking passionately about your cause, or integrating the partnership into company-wide meetings, you know you have a true partner who is invested in your success.
Consistent Partner Communication
A corporate partnership is a relationship, and like any healthy relationship, it thrives on communication. The most successful programs involve regular, open dialogue between the company and the nonprofit. This means going beyond an annual report and creating an ongoing conversation. These programs create "meaningful connections between companies, their employees, and the communities they serve." By sharing updates, celebrating wins together, and strategizing on future campaigns, you build a collaborative spirit. Using tools like direct messaging can even help you nurture these relationships at scale, keeping corporate partners and their employees engaged directly with your mission.
Transparent Reporting
Trust is built on transparency. Successful corporate philanthropy programs are open about their goals, progress, and impact. A lack of clear reporting can make it difficult for anyone to assess the true value of a company's efforts, which can weaken confidence in the partnership. It’s essential to track and share key metrics, like funds raised, volunteer hours contributed, or the number of people served. Sharing this data not only demonstrates accountability but also tells a powerful story about what you’ve accomplished together. Providing clear, consistent reports helps your corporate partner showcase the return on their investment and builds a strong case for continued support.
Common Challenges to Prepare For
Even the most well-intentioned corporate philanthropy programs can hit a few bumps in the road. As a nonprofit partner, understanding these potential hurdles helps you have more productive conversations and build stronger, more realistic partnerships. When you know what challenges your corporate partners are facing internally, you can position your organization as a solution and a valuable ally in their mission to do good.
Budget and Resource Constraints
It’s easy to assume large corporations have unlimited funds, but that’s rarely the case. Philanthropic initiatives, no matter how valuable, still need a budget. These programs often compete for funding with other departments like marketing and product development. For small or mid-sized businesses, the financial commitment can be a significant hurdle. When you approach a potential partner, be mindful that their team is likely working with a set budget and limited resources. Coming to the table with flexible, scalable partnership options can make your proposal much more attractive and show that you respect their financial planning.
Low Employee Participation
A key goal for many corporate giving programs is to improve employee morale and engagement. When a company launches a volunteer day or a matching gift campaign, low participation can be a major red flag for them. It suggests a disconnect between the company’s stated values and the employees’ interests. This is a challenge you can help them solve. By offering compelling and easy-to-join volunteer opportunities or fundraising campaigns, you give their employees a reason to get excited and involved. Highlighting how your nonprofit’s mission resonates with their team can make your partnership a win for their employee engagement goals.
Measuring Your True Impact
Companies are under pressure to demonstrate the return on every investment, and philanthropy is no exception. Stakeholders, from executives to customers, want to see the tangible impact of the company's contributions. Vague statements aren't enough; they need clear metrics. This is where your nonprofit can shine. By providing clear, consistent reporting on how their support is making a difference, you prove your value and build trust. Showcasing the specific outcomes of their donation, like the number of meals served or people helped, makes the impact real and reinforces their decision to partner with you. Sharing powerful customer stories is a great way to do this.
Maintaining Authenticity
Today’s consumers and employees can spot inauthentic gestures from a mile away. A corporate philanthropy program that feels like a publicity stunt or is misaligned with the company’s core business will quickly lose credibility. Authenticity is crucial for building the trust that makes these programs successful long-term. Partners need to genuinely care about the cause they support. As a nonprofit, you can help by seeking out companies whose values truly align with your mission. When the partnership is a natural fit, it’s easier for the company to be transparent and for the public to believe in their commitment to creating social good.
How to Measure Your Program's Impact
Once a corporate philanthropy program is up and running, the real work begins: measuring its impact. This isn’t just about patting yourselves on the back. It’s about accountability, improvement, and proving the program’s value to leadership, employees, and the community. For nonprofits, understanding how corporations measure success is key to building strong, lasting partnerships. When you can provide the exact data and stories your corporate partner needs, you demonstrate your value and make it easy for them to continue their support.
A solid measurement strategy doesn't have to be complicated. It focuses on tracking the right metrics, telling a complete story with both numbers and narratives, and using the right tools to make reporting straightforward. By aligning on what success looks like from the start, both the company and the nonprofit can work together to create and communicate a powerful story of collective impact. This transparency builds trust and sets the stage for even greater collaboration in the future.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track
Before you can measure impact, you need to define what you’re measuring. This is where key performance indicators (KPIs) come in. A company’s philanthropic goals should directly inform the KPIs they track. For example, if a key goal is employee engagement, they’ll want to measure the employee participation rate in giving campaigns or the total number of volunteer hours logged.
Common KPIs for corporate philanthropy include:
- Donation growth over time
- Total funds raised for partner nonprofits
- Volunteer hours contributed
- Number of people served by the nonprofit partner
- Social media engagement on campaign-related posts
As a nonprofit, asking a potential corporate partner about their KPIs is a great way to start the conversation. It shows you’re thinking strategically and are ready to help them achieve their specific goals.
Balancing Quantitative and Qualitative Metrics
The most compelling impact reports tell a story using both numbers and narratives. While quantitative data provides the hard numbers, qualitative data provides the human context that brings those numbers to life. It’s the difference between saying "we raised $50,000" and sharing a testimonial from someone whose life was changed because of the services that funding provided.
Think of it this way:
- Quantitative metrics are the inputs and outputs, like the amount of money donated or the number of volunteers. They answer "what" happened.
- Qualitative metrics are the outcomes, like personal stories of change or testimonials from the community. They answer "so what?"
Nonprofits are the keepers of these powerful stories. By nurturing 1:1 relationships with supporters, you can collect the authentic narratives that show the true impact of a corporate partner’s investment.
Streamlining Reports with Giving Software
Most companies aren’t tracking their philanthropic efforts in a simple spreadsheet. They often use corporate giving software to manage everything from matching gift programs to volunteer time off. These platforms are designed to consolidate data and generate clear, professional reports that can be shared with stakeholders across the company.
For nonprofits, this means two things. First, be prepared to provide clean, accurate data that can be easily imported into your partner’s system. Second, it highlights the importance of having your own robust tracking systems. When you can easily report on how many new donors or event participants came from a specific corporate campaign, you make a stronger case for continued partnership. GoodUnited helps nonprofits track this engagement directly from social media, turning followers into measurable supporters.
How Nonprofits Can Attract Corporate Partners
Landing a corporate partner is about more than just asking for a donation. It’s about building a genuine, mutually beneficial relationship. Companies today see philanthropy as a strategic part of their business, not just a charitable line item. They want to partner with causes that align with their values, engage their employees, and strengthen their brand reputation. For your nonprofit, this means you have an incredible opportunity to frame your work as a solution to a company’s goals. By showing how a partnership can create shared value, you move from being a grant seeker to a strategic ally.
This shift in mindset is crucial. Instead of just presenting your needs, you're presenting an opportunity. You're offering a company the chance to make a tangible impact, connect with the community in a meaningful way, and tell a powerful story about their brand. The most successful nonprofits understand this dynamic. They approach potential partners with a clear vision for what they can achieve together. The key is to think beyond a single transaction and focus on creating a lasting connection that benefits your mission and their business. When you can do that, you're not just fundraising; you're building a powerful coalition for good.
Make a Compelling Case for Partnership
When you approach a potential corporate partner, your pitch needs to go beyond your mission statement. You need to show them exactly why partnering with you makes business sense. Corporate philanthropy programs are strategic initiatives designed to strengthen communities while also advancing the company's own objectives. Do your homework. Understand the company’s values, their target audience, and their recent community involvement. Then, tailor your proposal to show clear alignment. Explain how supporting your cause will help them connect with their customers, demonstrate their commitment to social good, and create a positive story their team and audience can rally behind. Frame it as a win-win partnership from the very beginning.
Offer Meaningful Recognition
A corporate partner’s investment deserves more than a simple thank you note. Meaningful recognition is essential for showing your appreciation and reinforcing the value of their support. Public acknowledgment has become a powerful tool for companies to build trust and improve employee satisfaction. You can offer this through social media shout-outs, featuring their logo on your website, or including a story about their impact in your newsletter. Even better, create opportunities for their team to get involved directly through volunteer days or skills-based projects. This gives their employees a hands-on connection to the cause, making the partnership more tangible and rewarding for everyone involved.
Build Long-Term Relationships
The most impactful corporate partnerships are not one-time deals; they are long-term relationships built on trust and consistent communication. Your goal should be to turn a first-time corporate donor into a dedicated, multi-year partner. Keep them in the loop with regular updates on the impact of their contributions. Share stories, photos, and data that bring your work to life. Invite them to events and find ways to celebrate milestones together. By investing in the relationship, you show that you value their support beyond the financial transaction. This approach helps companies cultivate a more engaged workforce and demonstrates a real commitment to creating meaningful social impact, making them more likely to stick with you for the long haul.
Amplify Your Impact with Social Media
A corporate partnership is more than just a logo on your website or a check in the mail. It’s a powerful story waiting to be told, and social media is the perfect place to tell it. When you bring your corporate philanthropy programs online, you invite your entire community to participate. You move the partnership from a behind-the-scenes agreement to a public celebration of shared values. This is where the real magic happens.
By sharing stories, celebrating milestones, and tagging your partners, you create a ripple effect. You not only give your corporate partner valuable public recognition but also show your individual supporters what’s possible when people and businesses come together for a cause. This public-facing activity builds momentum and social proof, making your mission more attractive to both future partners and individual donors. It’s how you turn a single partnership into a movement that inspires your entire audience to get involved. Many nonprofits have seen incredible results by using social media to highlight these key relationships and grow their community of supporters.
Turn Corporate Campaigns into Donor Engagement
When a corporate partner launches a matching gift campaign or sponsors an event, your social media channels become your command center. This is your chance to go beyond a simple "thank you" post and create a genuine engagement opportunity. Share compelling stories about the impact the funds will have, use vibrant photos and videos, and make the call to action crystal clear. Encourage your followers to tag friends, share the post, and join the campaign themselves.
This strategy transforms a corporate announcement into an interactive community event. Instead of just informing your audience, you’re inviting them to become part of the success story. By creating this shared experience, you make your supporters feel like valued contributors, not just spectators. This approach helps you capitalize on the excitement generated by your partner and channels it directly into your fundraising efforts.
Deepen Relationships Through Direct Messaging
Public posts are great for broadcasting your message, but the most meaningful connections happen in one-to-one conversations. When a follower likes, comments on, or shares a post about your corporate partnership, they are signaling their interest. This is the perfect opening to slide into their DMs with a personalized message. You can thank them for their support, share a bit more about the campaign, and answer any questions they might have.
This personal touch is what turns a passive follower into a dedicated donor. It shows you see them as an individual, not just a number. With Direct Messaging, you can automate these initial touchpoints to connect with every engaged supporter without overwhelming your team. This allows you to build authentic, lasting relationships at scale, creating a loyal community that feels truly connected to your cause and your partners.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the right corporate partner for my nonprofit? Start by looking for alignment, not just a big name. The best partnerships are with companies whose values and business goals genuinely overlap with your mission. Do your research: look at their website, their social media, and the causes they've supported before. Instead of sending a generic request, approach them with a clear idea of how a partnership would be a win for both of you, helping them connect with the community and live out their values.
I run a small nonprofit with a limited budget. Can we still attract corporate partners? Absolutely. You don't need a huge development team to build these relationships. Many companies, especially small and local businesses, are eager to make an impact in their own communities. Focus on what you can offer besides a logo placement. Propose partnerships that go beyond cash, like in-kind donations of products or services, or creating a meaningful volunteer project for their team. These types of collaborations build strong relationships and can often lead to financial support down the road.
My corporate partner wants to see the "impact" of their donation. What's the best way to show them? The most effective way to show impact is to combine clear numbers with compelling stories. Provide the quantitative data, such as the number of people served or meals delivered, because that shows the scale of their contribution. Then, pair that data with a qualitative story, like a personal testimonial from someone whose life was changed by your work. This combination of data and narrative helps your partner understand and feel the real-world difference their support is making.
How can I ask for funding for operational costs without scaring off a potential partner? Be confident and frame it as an investment in impact. The myth that donations should only fund programs is outdated, and smart companies know this. Explain that funding for essentials like staff salaries, rent, and technology is what makes your work possible and sustainable. You can call it an "impact investment" that ensures your programs are run effectively. When you show how operational support directly enables you to deliver on your mission, the right partners will understand and respect the request.
Our partner's employees don't seem very involved. How can we help get them excited? The key is to make participation easy, fun, and meaningful. Don't just assume they will find ways to get involved; create the opportunities for them. Propose a specific, hands-on volunteer day that allows them to see your work up close. Suggest a friendly fundraising competition between departments or a social media challenge that unites the whole company around a shared goal. When you provide a clear and engaging path to participation, you make it much easier for their team to connect with your cause.