In immediately’s evolving panorama of company social accountability, partnerships between firms and nonprofits are extra essential, and extra complicated, than ever earlier than. Whereas nonprofits typically search funding, volunteer help, or elevated visibility, firms are additionally on the lookout for one thing in return. Whereas they’ll differ, firms’ expectations for nonprofits can embrace alignment with their values, influence they’ll measure, and genuine, mutually helpful partnerships.
Understanding what firms really anticipate from nonprofit companions is essential for constructing lasting, symbiotic relationships. On this submit, we’ll discover what companies are actually on the lookout for after they have interaction with nonprofits, from compliance and communication to mission alignment and group presence.
At this time, we’ll assessment a dialog had between Jim Starr, President and CEO of America’s Charities, and Patrick McCrumman, International Head of Neighborhood and Social Affect at DuPont. These company citizenship representatives are consultants in relation to nonprofit partnerships, and so they lately shared their insights throughout a session on the Digital Office Fundraising Summit. We’ll present an summary of the findings right here, or be at liberty to look at the session replay by clicking the button beneath.
Company giving needs to be an extremely important piece of any nonprofit’s fundraising technique. In spite of everything, firms donate an estimated $25 billion a 12 months, and that’s an excellent chunk of change to contemplate. When requested what developments they’ve seen within the CSR house lately and the way that impacts nonprofits, the panelists answered as follows.
What are some ongoing developments you’ve seen within the CSR house?
One current development within the CSR house is that non-public foundations are stepping as much as fill funding gaps left by strained public and nonprofit sectors. These foundations are more and more reaching past their conventional geographic focus to help causes in new areas, demonstrating a deeper dedication to attaining their influence objectives. This shift is available in response to rising pressures on each private and non-private organizations to maintain philanthropic efforts amid monetary challenges.
One other encouraging development is the emergence of latest collaborative ecosystems in response to shared challenges. Organizations that won’t have partnered earlier than are actually coming collectively to discover collective influence. These alliances are fostering out-of-the-box considering and revolutionary approaches to social accountability, enabling like-minded teams to align their efforts and sources in additional strategic, coordinated methods. This shift displays a rising recognition that significant change typically requires cross-sector collaboration.
How do firms select to help nonprofits?
Corporations help the charitable sector in some ways, with grants being some of the frequent and impactful. Company grantmaking takes numerous varieties—from open purposes the place any nonprofit can apply, to extra focused or invitation-only processes targeted on particular causes or partnerships. Many firms align their giving with strategic priorities, corresponding to their mission, management values, or worker pursuits.
This brings us to an essential query: How do firms determine which organizations to help by way of their company grants?
At DuPont, an organization with over 230 years of historical past, company giving is approached with intentionality and strategic focus. Their philanthropic efforts are guided by a shared worth mannequin—one which aligns group influence with company profit. This mannequin ensures that if DuPont is making a distinction on this planet, it’s additionally making a optimistic distinction inside the firm. That alignment is important, as management should commonly show tangible outcomes from their giving technique to inside stakeholders, together with the CEO.
When choosing nonprofit companions, DuPont seems for organizations that align with its three pillars of giving (fundamentals to thrive, STEM training, and innovation for good) and assist fill gaps or construct partnerships that help the corporate’s overarching mission. With operations in over 100 websites globally, DuPont additionally considers the native wants of its communities, recognizing that what advantages the group can and will profit the corporate as nicely. This strategy ensures DuPont delivers worth not solely to nonprofits and the communities they serve, but in addition to workers, traders, and different key stakeholders.
What are firms on the lookout for in company relationships?
What we’re seeing with our companions is a rising emphasis on extra significant, quantitative influence metrics of their giving packages. Many firms are shifting past surface-level knowledge, such because the variety of volunteers or meals served, and as a substitute wish to perceive the deeper, long-term influence their help is having locally. Each companies and nonprofits are actively working to raised measure and talk these outcomes.
That stated, model visibility stays a useful profit. Corporations nonetheless admire alternatives to showcase their model locally, however immediately, that visibility is usually anticipated to accompany a transparent demonstration of social influence.
So as to add an instance that illustrates the connection, Dupont has been a powerful supporter of Habitat for Humanity for over 30 years, and that partnership aligns intently with its enterprise. How? DuPont manufactures merchandise used within the constructing surroundings. So, when the corporate companions with organizations like Habitat, it’s not nearly giving again—it’s about creating like-minded collaborations the place we are able to contribute meaningfully. These partnerships enable us to check our merchandise in real-world settings, have interaction our workers by way of volunteer builds, and finally create a well-rounded relationship that delivers worth and influence for each side.
How does worker engagement play a job?
One other key issue firms worth in nonprofit partnerships is how workers can actively have interaction by way of office giving packages. Whereas office giving used to comply with a extra uniform mannequin, typically centered round a single group like United Method, immediately’s packages are far more various.
Some firms supply open-choice platforms that enable workers to provide to any certified 501(c)(3), whereas others present curated lists targeted on particular trigger areas or most popular nonprofits. The development is more and more shifting towards extra flexibility, together with choices for workers to counsel or write in their very own charities, which has been proven to spice up each engagement and total influence.
Many firms additionally supply matching present packages as a part of their giving campaigns. These differ extensively, from dollar-for-dollar matches to enhanced giving for sure causes or campaigns, like environmental giving throughout Earth Month. Matching items not solely amplify worker donations but in addition strengthen an organization’s total social influence.
How can nonprofits improve visibility by way of office giving?
Whereas there are all the time challenges in constructing efficient partnerships, there are methods to beat them. Firstly, it’s essential to know an organization’s technique and its objectives for group influence, whether or not it’s a big company or a small enterprise.
To attain significant influence, it’s essential to contemplate the broader ecosystem of partnerships that may assist meet these objectives. The hot button is to be taught concerning the firm’s targets and tailor your strategy to indicate how your nonprofit can contribute to these objectives. This strategy sparks conversations and opens doorways to new partnerships which may not have been thought of in any other case.
Nonprofits may also leverage bottom-up methods by way of worker giving packages. Many donors are workers of firms with giving packages, and nonprofits can mobilize these supporters to extend visibility inside the workforce. Selling matching present packages is an effective way to encourage donors to double their contributions, particularly if they’re unaware of such alternatives.
How does volunteering play a job?
Along with worker giving, volunteering is a robust device for nonprofits to have interaction with company companions. Corporations worth volunteer packages for quite a lot of causes, together with group influence, team-building, and worker engagement. Some firms additionally supply grant funding by way of “{dollars} for doers” packages, the place workers can earn grants for nonprofits based mostly on volunteer hours.
Nonprofits ought to encourage their volunteers to discover these alternatives at their workplaces and guarantee they’ve well-curated volunteer alternatives to supply. Corporations are sometimes on the lookout for significant and impactful initiatives to incorporate of their platforms, and nonprofits needs to be ready to supply these alternatives. This proactive strategy helps maximize volunteer engagement and strengthens the partnership between nonprofits and companies.
At DuPont, volunteerism is a core a part of our tradition, and we make a major influence in communities by way of each large-scale occasions and smaller volunteer actions all year long. Our annual “Days of Caring” occasion is one instance, however we additionally encourage workers to have interaction in inventive methods, from hands-on volunteering to extra strategic contributions. For example, we’ve had workers serve on nonprofit boards to assist organizations develop long-term methods. One worker labored with a nonprofit scuffling with its development plan, providing experience and steering that proved invaluable.
Participating company volunteers is a useful however difficult job for nonprofits. It requires important funding in time and sources to do it nicely. Whereas some nonprofits have pure volunteer alternatives that may be promoted inside an organization, creating significant group volunteer occasions requires cautious consideration from each the nonprofit and the corporate.
How ought to nonprofits foster long-term company relationships?
Nonprofits ought to deal with constructing long-term relationships, not simply providing transactional alternatives. Whereas group volunteering can foster teamwork, the primary objective needs to be significant engagement that advantages each the corporate and the nonprofit. Strategic partnerships, the place workers are genuinely concerned and the nonprofit is seen as an essential a part of the corporate’s group efforts, can result in elevated visibility and ongoing help. This strategy helps nonprofits get on the radar of an organization’s management, particularly inside CSR departments.
How can nonprofits find the correct company contacts?
A standard query I hear is how nonprofits can discover the correct particular person inside an organization to attach with. This generally is a problem, particularly in bigger companies or the place CSR groups are small, generally solely consisting of 1 to 4 folks.
One solution to discover the correct contact is to search for the CSR division, but it surely’s essential to notice that CSR could not all the time be a standalone division. In lots of instances, it may be a part of communications, group relations, or different areas inside the firm. Nevertheless, many firms, each giant and small, may have a “group influence” or comparable part on their web site the place yow will discover details about their efforts and methods to attach.
One other efficient technique is to be lively locally. By attending nonprofit conferences or different group occasions, you possibly can be taught extra about who’s doing what and ask for introductions. In my expertise, nonprofit leaders are sometimes very prepared to share contacts, and it’s not a aggressive ambiance. In the event you’re attempting to succeed in a selected particular person at an organization, like DuPont, asking round in your community generally is a useful solution to get related.
In the meantime, many firms with a nationwide presence decentralize their philanthropic efforts, delegating decision-making to regional workplaces or native leaders. Whereas it might be more durable to establish the correct particular person making these choices, the secret’s to be the place they’re. Attend native Chamber of Commerce conferences or different group occasions to attach with them instantly. Being current in these areas will increase your probabilities of making useful connections.
What has been the impact of the present political local weather and financial uncertainty?
With the present political local weather and financial uncertainty, are we seeing extra firms changing into reluctant to associate with sure charities, particularly these whose missions could also be perceived as partisan or aligned with controversial points? Is that this one thing you’re noticing in your conversations with different CSR professionals? Moreover, how is the continuing financial uncertainty affecting firms’ choices relating to partnerships, donations, and the extent of help they supply?
Starting with a disclaimer that he can solely communicate from his personal perspective, our company contact reiterates that he doesn’t suppose financial uncertainties are a brand new problem. In actual fact, we’ve confronted them many instances over time. Nevertheless, they do put strain on each companies and nonprofits to make choices they may not have made in any other case. We’re in a novel second, but it surely’s not essentially political—it’s about discovering methods to make sure that persons are served. The remainder is simply noise, and that’s a part of the uncertainty we face.
On the finish of the day, we depend on our technique, our group relationships, and our visibility inside the group to remain the course and do as a lot good as we are able to.
How do laws and compliance developments play a job?
In terms of company partnerships, even much less formal ones like worker giving or volunteering packages, it’s completely essential for nonprofits to remain on high of state and federal laws and compliance developments. Even for those who’re not working in sure states, you could have donors from these areas who wish to help your efforts. In the event you’re not in full compliance with state laws, these donations might be prevented from coming in.
Most of you might be possible federally compliant, however state laws could be tough. For instance, in 2024, California enacted Meeting Invoice 488, which regulates on-line charitable fundraising. This invoice has two lists that charities should keep away from with a view to obtain funds from California residents. As a web based giving platform supplier, we’ve got to make sure that the charities we work with aren’t on California’s ‘naughty record.’
This can be one thing nonprofits aren’t conscious of, particularly in the event that they’re not working in California, but it surely’s a essential subject. California at the moment has essentially the most stringent laws, however different states could undertake comparable legal guidelines within the close to future, so it’s essential to remain knowledgeable.
Any further insights?
Compliance, as you talked about, is essential, but it surely’s additionally essential to make sure your mission stays true. It may be tempting to just accept funding from sources the place chances are you’ll not have the experience to meet that partnership successfully. That is the place your board ought to step in and punctiliously deliberate these choices to be sure to’re doing the very best to your group and its backside line.
Wrapping up & extra company giving sources
On the coronary heart of each profitable nonprofit–company partnership is a shared dedication to influence and integrity. Corporations aren’t simply seeking to write checks—they need significant engagement, accountability, and alignment with their strategic objectives.
Nonprofits that take the time to know these expectations, put money into relationships, and keep mission-focused are much more more likely to stand out. Whether or not you’re in search of funding, volunteers, or a deeper collaborative effort, assembly firms the place they’re and displaying up persistently can open doorways to enduring partnerships that profit each your group and the communities you serve.
Fascinated by studying extra about corporate-nonprofit relationships—and the way your group can profit from them? Take a look at these further sources:
- Matching Presents in Apply: Suggestions, Methods From Your Friends. Learn the way different nonprofits are efficiently selling and managing matching present packages. This Summit session overview shares real-world examples, finest practices, and artistic ways that will help you improve present conversions and maximize company help.
- The Fundraiser’s Information to Highly effective Company Partnerships. From first contact to long-term collaboration, this information walks fundraisers by way of each step of growing robust, strategic relationships with firms. Uncover how you can place your group as a useful associate and construct alliances that transcend one-time donations.
- High Office Giving Corporations: Main Employers to Know. Discover a curated record of firms that paved the way in worker giving and volunteering. Whether or not you’re seeking to have interaction in matching present packages or set up deeper partnerships, this record highlights key gamers and what they provide nonprofits.
