
CMN Hospitals’ VPs Julie Breckenkamp and Staci Cross share their lessons learned and top tips for building corporate partnerships
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a national nonprofit raising funds for 170 children’s hospitals, is a leader in the corporate partnership and social impact space. CMN Hospitals has almost 100 corporate partners, an average partnership tenure of 20 years and retained 100% of its corporate partners during the pandemic.
Long-lasting relationships like these take time and energy, but it’s one of the most important investments a nonprofit can make. In today’s episode, EFG’s Alli Murphy is joined by CMN Hospitals’ Vice President of National Strategic Partnerships, Julie Breckenkamp, and Vice President of Community Operations & New Business, Staci Cross.
They recently hit a 15-year milestone with Panda Express and a 35-year milestone with Walmart. In today’s episode, we’ll highlight their overall corporate partnership program, learn from these two milestones and hear Julie & Staci’s advice for building long-lasting corporate partnerships. CMN Hospitals is celebrating 40 years in 2023 – and is still working with some of its first partners!
In today’s episode, we’ll explore:
- The 3 principles that lead to CMN Hospitals’ great relationships with its corporate partners
- How to work from a relational, not transactional, mindset
- How to focus on long-term partnerships from the get-to
- How to immerse employees in your partnership
- What a “customer-intimate approach” is and why it’s important
- Julie & Staci’s top pieces of advice for listeners
Guests

Julie Breckenkamp
VP of National Strategic Partnerships, CMN Hospitals
Staci Cross
VP of Community Operations & New Business, CMN HospitalsMeet The Host

Alli Murphy
Alli is the Director of Events & Program Development at Engage for Good where she leads a talented team that helps corporate social impact leaders advance their campaigns, careers and organizations through professional development and networking opportunities.
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