Tips For Nonprofits

Tapping Into Business Giving

1. Take a long-term approach to cultivating a relationship.

Corporations rarely give on the strength of a single request for a contribution. Try again. Make a connection. Let prospective donors know about your programs and invite them to visit.

2. Rely on your board of directors.

Talk with them about their companies’ contribution policies. Ask them to introduce you to representatives of companies that may be interested in your mission.

3. Research prospective donors.

Check corporate web sites for contribution policies, required applications and contributions calendars. If necessary, make a few phone calls. Determine the company’s focus areas and identify the local decision-makers. Address your proposal to an individual whenever possible and make sure the names of the individual and the company are spelled correctly and current.

4. Follow company guidelines.

Most companies receive hundreds of proposals annuals, so follow their guidelines precisely. If you have specific questions, call first. Keep your proposal brief, simple and free of fancy packaging. Use bullets. Control sentence and paragraph length, and use active verbs. Have a least two people proofread your proposal. Triple check that all required elements are enclosed.

5. Seek a connection.

A company will often link its decisions about corporate gifts to its mission. Seek out grants from companies whose mission is similar to your organization’s. Identify where your interests intersect. Companies also often support nonprofits where their employees volunteer. When a connection is established, a relationship can evolve.

6. Think beyond the dollars.

Companies are increasingly interested in contributing more than just dollars – expertise, employees, products and services. Ask the company about the types of in-kind support available. You might not get money, but you might get volunteers for your next fund-raising event, some slightly used computers, or office furniture. More important, you will establish a relationship for the future.

7. Report results.

Provide your donors a report of how your projects are progressing, how their donation was used and how a made a difference in the community. This vital element of fundraising is the key to maintaining a strong, long-term and mutually beneficial relationship.

Tip For Nonprofits courtesy of Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.