During these unprecedented times, nonprofit leaders are struggling with how to respond to and engage with their corporate partners. What partnership plans, if any, can remain business-as-usual? Which plans should pivot? Which should be postponed or canceled altogether? And, what is the best way to navigate conversations through all the unknowns?
Armed with data from a new Engage for Good survey of nonprofit leaders, we’ll share aggregated planning insights, revenue forecasts and a snapshot of anticipated implications for cause activation timing.
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Tips From The Panelists:
Amanda Lepof, American Red Cross
If you are a leader of a team, communicate often with your team. As a teammate, make extra efforts to connect with your colleagues. We are responding to an emergency where every single person is impacted. Give people the benefit of the doubt, be extra patient, and support each other.
Jane Balek, Think About Your Eyes
Try to connect with each of your partners and understand how this is impacting their businesses and their employees. If you can understand what their pain points and concerns are, you can start thinking about how YOU can help them as a partner. In our roles, we are often asking our partners to give or contribute, this is an opportunity for us to learn how we can help these companies and demonstrate how the relationship returns value.
Also – understand that resources can mean more than money. Your partners may have resources they can contribute (staff, marketing channels, communications) that can help at this time.
Janelle Lin, DonorsChoose
We’ve connected on a very raw and real emotional level with our partners. We’ve had multiple calls where partners have teared up and shared how relieved they were to hear about our new initiative. I’d recommend asking a simple question to try to connect with your partner. I always start with “How are you doing and how are the students doing in [your neck of the woods?]” Partners are dealing with a tremendous amount of stress and reshuffling of priorities and I think the personal connection is important. Also, this question often helps the partner orient themselves to our mission and initiative.
