If only steps “A, B, and C” of landing a corporate relationship really was as easy as “Do, Re, Mi.”  

If you’re not sure where to start reaching out your for profit friends, breeze through these basic approaches to landing a corporate partnership.

Your Assets: Gather all of the information you need to make a compelling pitch to a corporation. This could include: a pitch deck, annual report, financial statements, stories, etc.

Remember, corporate sponsorship is a numbers game. Your organization needs to be able to share your impact in dollars and cents as well as your and basic demographics to attract and  show a company how their money will increase impact too.

Your Network: Look into your network for connections to leverage with certain corporations. Corporations are more likely to contribute to nonprofits their employees volunteer with.

       Tip: Classy suggests seeking out sponsors whose mission is are aligned with yours so as not to create      reputational hazards down the line.

Your Community: Gain insight into the local business community & do a market analysis on the corporate sponsorship landscape in your area. Where are there opportunities for your organization to pursue?

The Local Business Community : What is the company’s protocol for sponsoring new nonprofits? Make sure your organization aligns with their criteria and is a good fit.

Your Value Proposition: How will financially supporting your organization benefit this company? Focus on the corporation’s business goals and specific motivations for giving.

 

Your Offering: What incentives will you offer? Look into the kinds of sponsorships organizations like yours have done in the past and consider the options most mutually beneficial for your organization and the corporation.

       Tip: Don’t be afraid to get creative with your offering, but always have a firm framework

Your Relationships: Consider these three steps when building relationships with corporations:

Look out for events to share your information and network with corporations and find out what departments at those corporations handle corporate sponsorships. Personally connect with the decision-maker and build a relationship.

    Realization: Building this relationship will take time. Patience is key!

Your Pitch:  DoSomething.org’s COO, Aria Create, says to create a pitch deck outlining who you are, what you’re bringing to the table and what you want from them.

       Tips: Don’t overload a pitch. Decide what materials make the most sense for certain companies, and make sure not to use or wear a competitor’s gear during the pitch.

In an Informed Way: Keep tabs on the goings-ons of the company after the initial pitch. Apply to their newsletter, check out updates in the news, sign up for google alerts or review their site for events coming up.

Consistently: Keep healthy communication flowing. Try to lightly “touch” the corporation (don’t be too pushy!) and make sure each point of contact is intentional and well drafted.

       Tips: Not every contact needs to be about the deal. Reaching out to share relevant articles or updates about your work can help keep you top of mind.