In as we speak’s evolving panorama of company social duty, partnerships between corporations and nonprofits are extra essential, and extra advanced, than ever earlier than. Whereas nonprofits typically search funding, volunteer assist, or elevated visibility, corporations are additionally searching for one thing in return. Whereas they’ll fluctuate, corporations’ expectations for nonprofits can embrace alignment with their values, affect they’ll measure, and genuine, mutually useful partnerships.
Understanding what corporations actually anticipate from nonprofit companions is crucial for constructing lasting, symbiotic relationships. On this put up, we’ll discover what companies are actually searching for once they interact with nonprofits, from compliance and communication to mission alignment and group presence.
Immediately, we’ll assessment a dialog had between Jim Starr, President and CEO of America’s Charities, and Patrick McCrumman, World Head of Group and Social Affect at DuPont. These company citizenship representatives are specialists on the subject of nonprofit partnerships, and so they just 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 ought to be an extremely important piece of any nonprofit’s fundraising technique. In any case, corporations donate an estimated $25 billion a yr, and that’s an excellent chunk of change to think about. When requested what developments they’ve seen within the CSR area just lately and the way that impacts nonprofits, the panelists answered as follows.
What are some ongoing developments you’ve seen within the CSR area?
One current development within the CSR area 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 assist causes in new areas, demonstrating a deeper dedication to reaching their affect targets. 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 at the moment are coming collectively to discover collective affect. These alliances are fostering out-of-the-box pondering and revolutionary approaches to social duty, enabling like-minded teams to align their efforts and assets in additional strategic, coordinated methods. This shift displays a rising recognition that significant change typically requires cross-sector collaboration.
How do corporations select to assist nonprofits?
Firms assist the charitable sector in some ways, with grants being one of the vital frequent and impactful. Company grantmaking takes numerous kinds—from open purposes the place any nonprofit can apply, to extra focused or invitation-only processes targeted on particular causes or partnerships. Many corporations align their giving with strategic priorities, reminiscent of their mission, management values, or worker pursuits.
This brings us to an essential query: How do corporations determine which organizations to assist via 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 affect with company profit. This mannequin ensures that if DuPont is making a distinction on the earth, it’s additionally making a constructive distinction throughout the firm. That alignment is important, as management should frequently exhibit tangible outcomes from their giving technique to inner stakeholders, together with the CEO.
When deciding on 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 assist 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 may profit the corporate as nicely. This strategy ensures DuPont delivers worth not solely to nonprofits and the communities they serve, but additionally to staff, traders, and different key stakeholders.
What are corporations searching for in company relationships?
What we’re seeing with our companions is a rising emphasis on extra significant, quantitative affect metrics of their giving applications. Many corporations are shifting past surface-level knowledge, such because the variety of volunteers or meals served, and as an alternative need to perceive the deeper, long-term affect their assist is having locally. Each firms and nonprofits are actively working to raised measure and talk these outcomes.
That stated, model visibility stays a priceless profit. Firms nonetheless admire alternatives to showcase their model locally, however as we speak, that visibility is commonly anticipated to accompany a transparent demonstration of social affect.
So as to add an instance that illustrates the connection, Dupont has been a robust supporter of Habitat for Humanity for over 30 years, and that partnership aligns carefully 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 will contribute meaningfully. These partnerships permit us to check our merchandise in real-world settings, interact our staff via volunteer builds, and in the end create a well-rounded relationship that delivers worth and affect for each side.
How does worker engagement play a job?
One other key issue corporations worth in nonprofit partnerships is how staff can actively interact via office giving applications. Whereas office giving used to comply with a extra uniform mannequin, typically centered round a single group like United Method, as we speak’s applications are way more numerous.
Some corporations provide open-choice platforms that permit staff to present to any certified 501(c)(3), whereas others present curated lists targeted on particular trigger areas or most well-liked 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 general affect.
Many corporations additionally provide matching reward applications as a part of their giving campaigns. These fluctuate 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 additionally strengthen an organization’s general social affect.
How can nonprofits improve visibility via office giving?
Whereas there are all the time challenges in constructing efficient partnerships, there are methods to beat them. At first, it’s essential to know an organization’s technique and its targets for group affect, whether or not it’s a big company or a small enterprise.
To realize significant affect, it’s essential to think about the broader ecosystem of partnerships that may assist meet these targets. The hot button is to study in regards to the firm’s aims and tailor your strategy to indicate how your nonprofit can contribute to these targets. This strategy sparks conversations and opens doorways to new partnerships which may not have been thought-about in any other case.
Nonprofits can even leverage bottom-up methods via worker giving applications. Many donors are staff of corporations with giving applications, and nonprofits can mobilize these supporters to extend visibility throughout the workforce. Selling matching reward applications is a good 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 strong software for nonprofits to interact with company companions. Firms worth volunteer applications for quite a lot of causes, together with group affect, team-building, and worker engagement. Some corporations additionally provide grant funding via “{dollars} for doers” applications, the place staff can earn grants for nonprofits primarily based 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. Firms are sometimes searching for significant and impactful tasks to incorporate of their platforms, and nonprofits ought to be ready to supply these alternatives. This proactive strategy helps maximize volunteer engagement and strengthens the partnership between nonprofits and firms.
At DuPont, volunteerism is a core a part of our tradition, and we make a big affect in communities via each large-scale occasions and smaller volunteer actions all year long. Our annual “Days of Caring” occasion is one instance, however we additionally encourage staff to interact in inventive methods, from hands-on volunteering to extra strategic contributions. For example, we’ve had staff 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 steerage that proved invaluable.
Participating company volunteers is a priceless however difficult job for nonprofits. It requires important funding in time and assets 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 concentrate on constructing long-term relationships, not simply providing transactional alternatives. Whereas group volunteering can foster teamwork, the principle purpose ought to be significant engagement that advantages each the corporate and the nonprofit. Strategic partnerships, the place staff 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 assist. This strategy helps nonprofits get on the radar of an organization’s management, particularly inside CSR departments.
How can nonprofits find the proper company contacts?
A typical query I hear is how nonprofits can discover the proper individual inside an organization to attach with. This is usually a problem, particularly in bigger firms or the place CSR groups are small, generally solely consisting of 1 to 4 folks.
One approach to discover the proper contact is to search for the CSR division, nevertheless it’s essential to notice that CSR might not all the time be a standalone division. In lots of instances, it may be a part of communications, group relations, or different areas throughout the firm. Nevertheless, many corporations, each massive and small, may have a “group affect” or comparable part on their web site the place you 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’ll be able to study 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 making an attempt to achieve a selected individual at an organization, like DuPont, asking round in your community is usually a useful approach to get linked.
In the meantime, many corporations 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 proper individual making these selections, the bottom line is to be the place they’re. Attend native Chamber of Commerce conferences or different group occasions to attach with them immediately. Being current in these areas will increase your probabilities of making priceless 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 corporations turning 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 continued financial uncertainty affecting corporations’ selections relating to partnerships, donations, and the extent of assist they supply?
Starting with a disclaimer that he can solely communicate from his personal perspective, our company contact reiterates that he doesn’t assume financial uncertainties are a brand new problem. In truth, we’ve confronted them many instances over time. Nevertheless, they do put strain on each firms and nonprofits to make selections they won’t have made in any other case. We’re in a singular second, nevertheless it’s not essentially political—it’s about discovering methods to make sure that individuals are served. The remaining 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 throughout the group to remain the course and do as a lot good as we will.
How do laws and compliance developments play a job?
With regards to company partnerships, even much less formal ones like worker giving or volunteering applications, it’s completely crucial for nonprofits to remain on prime of state and federal laws and compliance developments. Even for those who’re not working in sure states, you will have donors from these areas who need to assist your efforts. In the event you’re not in full compliance with state laws, these donations may very well be prevented from coming in.
Most of you’re 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 purpose to obtain funds from California residents. As a web-based giving platform supplier, we’ve to make sure that the charities we work with aren’t on California’s ‘naughty listing.’
This can be one thing nonprofits aren’t conscious of, particularly in the event that they’re not working in California, nevertheless it’s a crucial subject. California presently has essentially the most stringent laws, however different states might 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, nevertheless it’s additionally essential to make sure your mission stays true. It may be tempting to just accept funding from sources the place it’s possible you’ll not have the experience to satisfy that partnership successfully. That is the place your board ought to step in and thoroughly deliberate these selections to be sure to’re doing one of the best to your group and its backside line.
Wrapping up & extra company giving assets
On the coronary heart of each profitable nonprofit–company partnership is a shared dedication to affect and integrity. Firms aren’t simply seeking to write checks—they need significant engagement, accountability, and alignment with their strategic targets.
Nonprofits that take the time to know these expectations, put money into relationships, and keep mission-focused are way more more likely to stand out. Whether or not you’re searching for funding, volunteers, or a deeper collaborative effort, assembly corporations the place they’re and displaying up constantly can open doorways to enduring partnerships that profit each your group and the communities you serve.
Taken with studying extra about corporate-nonprofit relationships—and the way your group can profit from them? Try these further assets:
- Matching Presents in Apply: Ideas, Methods From Your Friends. Find out how different nonprofits are efficiently selling and managing matching reward applications. This Summit session overview shares real-world examples, finest practices, and artistic techniques that will help you improve reward conversions and maximize company assist.
- The Fundraiser’s Information to Highly effective Company Partnerships. From first contact to long-term collaboration, this information walks fundraisers via each step of growing sturdy, strategic relationships with corporations. Uncover how one can place your group as a priceless associate and construct alliances that transcend one-time donations.
- High Office Giving Firms: Main Employers to Know. Discover a curated listing of corporations that prepared the ground in worker giving and volunteering. Whether or not you’re seeking to interact in matching reward applications or set up deeper partnerships, this listing highlights key gamers and what they provide nonprofits.
