Fundraising from Corporations

Corporations increasingly play a grant-making role in the world of philanthropy and giving. Maybe you even know some NGOs that have received substantial grants from corporations and are benefiting from this partnership. There is huge potential for organizations to work with corporations and businesses, as they have much more to offer than financial support.

If you have ever tried to access funding linked to a corporation, you have probably also realized it is not as easy as it might look from the outside. It can be challenging to get a foot in the door; emails go unanswered, or if they do respond, the corporation says they have already spent their budget or simply have no interest. So how can you tap into this huge potential for your NGO and also benefit from the resources in the corporate sector?

One barrier is that we speak a different language in the NGO sector and that we mostly have a very different organizational culture. If you use the same tools you have learned for fundraising from foundation donors with corporations, you will probably encounter a problem: they don’t understand you. To be successful, you have to learn their language, understand their intentions, and present yourself in a way that appeals to them. This course will help you understand how to do just that.

We have developed a comprehensive course to teach you how to approach and communicate with corporations and how to turn these contacts into fruitful cooperation. Our trainer, Christopher Varady, has worked for corporations for the last 10 years and shares his experiences from the field with you.

What will you learn from this course?

• The growing role of corporations in giving
• Corporate motivations for giving
• Vetting & ethical considerations
• How to identify a potential partner
• Developing a contact strategy and sales pitch

Who should take the course?

• NGO managers and executive directors
• Fundraising and development professionals for local and international NGOs
• Non-profit consultants and consulting firms
• Fundraisers for local NGOs and small organizations
• Fundraisers for a cause close to their heart
• Students

After finishing the course, you will have a pitch for corporations that you want to contact and fundraise from, as well as a much better idea of how to effectively communicate your goals.

Philantropia is an Approved Provider for Continuing Education in Fundraising. Full participation in “Fundraising from Corporations” is applicable for 2.5 points in Category 1. B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification. CFRE is an independent certification for fundraising professionals that aims to set standards in philanthropy through a valid and reliable certification process for fundraising professionals.

Participation in this program may assist you in learning or reviewing concepts covered on the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) examination as detailed on the Test Content Outline provided by CFRE International. CFRE International does not sponsor or endorse any educational programs and the (educational program title) was not developed in conjunction with CFRE International.