1. Build Corporate Partnerships.
- Shift your posture from needing help to offering opportunity. Change “We’re looking for sponsors” to “We’re building a movement around [cause], do you want to co-author the story?”
- Ditch the gold-silver-bronze garbage. Create partnership experiences that feel custom-built. Fund an innovation lab, co-host a thought leadership series, or launch a branded scholarship program.
- Play offense on LinkedIn. Don’t expect them to find you. Go to them, name them, thank them.
- Build a Corporate Advisory Council. Once they feel bought-in, the dollars will follow.
- Make it ridiculously easy to say yes. Your ask should be crystal clear: “We have a $25,000 project funding gap. Here’s what you’ll get in return. Here’s how your brand will be celebrated.”
- Follow up like a human, not a robot. Send them micro-wins like “Just wanted to share, we hit 100 youth served this month!” or “This story made me think of your team’s values.”
2. Pitch a Mutual Benefit for Corporate Funding.
Corporations give $21 billion annually, most want a mutually beneficial partnership. Propose a two-way street across four dimensions:
Philanthropy:
- You get: Thoughtful, strategic, aligned grants.
- They get: A trusted home to invest their mandated giving.
People:
- You get: Volunteers and expertise.
- They get: A happier staff.
Platform
- You get: New audiences.
- They get: Strengthened brand positioning and powerful differentiation.
Product (In-kind Giving)
- You get: Free resources and tools.
- They get: To leverage their core business in the service of others.