How can you involve local businesses in fundraising events?

Cultivate personal relationships with local business leaders, and ensure that your organization's leadership is part of key groups, like business councils, chambers of commerce, and social groups like Rotary. As you build relationships, ask the business leaders about their passions for charitable impact, key areas they care about, and find ways to link your organization. Be sure that when you partner, you are channeling publicity, notice, gratitude, and business to their company in the best way you can. And finally, share with the local business the impact they have had regularly, in the most personal way possible.

Engage in networking platforms, rise your organization's profile and work the corporates with intelligent, and appealing pitches for investment. Repackage your pitch for each potential investor. Work the market!

Developing personal relationships with key stakeholders in local businesses, organizations like chambers of commerce, service organizations such as Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, and with major area employers is key to securing financial support. Tell stories and outcomes so that they can see the merit of your work. Approach the work from a perspective of "mutual gain" and value added. They get to move the cause forward and you provide them with the exposure that positions them as leading supporters in the community.

Identify businesses aligned with your cause or event theme through online searches or community networking. Look for companies with a history of supporting similar initiatives or whose values align with your fundraising goals. Engage with local chambers of commerce, community groups, or previous event sponsors to discover potential partners.

This is an easy one. Remember they are INDIVIDUALS making a decision on behalf of a local company. Treat them and talk to them just as you would a major donor. Remember they need your support as much as you need theirs. Many local businesses don't have data bases of "customer loyalty" as we do. It's a 2 way street - a WIN WIN for the community.

Keep in mind that whereas this charity or fundraiser is deeply meaningful to you, don’t assume that those you’re reaching out to for funding are as well versed in your mission and impact. I have served on many nonprofit boards over the years, and found that when I was actively participating, I learned so much more about the depth of what they offered even though I had been familiar with the organizations previously. You don’t have to give a master class on it, but truly helping local businesses you approach for donations and support understand the context and practical application of a charity’s mission and it’s impact will make your specific ask more meaningful. A compelling pitch is important, but set the table before you ask for food.

In my opinion, authenticity is the best “pitch” one can offer. It’s easy, it’s genuine, it helps to tell the best story and can captivate an audience or an individual in ways where they will always remember you! Before people/organization spend their money, they first must like, trust and believe in YOU! Find the “Why”, align it with your purpose and their goals and believe in what you’re offering. Because if you don’t, they won’t either. Best “pitch” advice…..ever!

Having run my own fundraising campaigns in various forms. From driving Tuk Tuk's around India and Sri Lanka to building water purification plants each year giving back clean water to communities. Everyone likes to hear a story and especially when it comes to giving back but if you think from the other foot most of the time the response will always be well what do i get back for supporting, and rightly so. But lets not forget fundraising doesn't always need to be monetary donations. Time, Locations, Events etc. Give the publicity to those contributing. Event publicity / T shirt advertising etc. Another angle is target the companies you are focused on Water Plants / Plumbing Co's Education / Stationary,book shops. Make it relevant to all.

Nothing can beat personal stories and experiences for crafting a compelling pitch. So I feel being actively involved in your programs will help you be a good fund raisers in events. Integrating the freshness of an experience and insight in your pitches or conversations with potential businesses will be impactful besides communicating the benefits of contributions in your pitch.

Don't pitch, listen and listen with your heart and mind first. The best pitch is having a mutually beneficial conversation and the right idea will pass through.

Here is the deal ?? Emphasize the value your event brings to their business, such as increased exposure, community goodwill, or direct marketing opportunities. Be flexible and open to their suggestions or needs while outlining what you require for the event's success. Ensure the partnership benefits both parties by finding a middle ground that aligns with their objectives and your fundraising goals.

In my most recent experience with events, I try to understand what are some struggles and what are some shortcomings that my potential partner is facing. Never be afraid to add a collaboration piece to the mix. When your focus is on improving their bottom line and helping them create more awareness, you create multi year partnerships. Dont just focus on this year but what would this relationship look like a year or two from now.

As once said by a wise man. In business you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate, engagements of an adviser that can negotiate on behalf of the host can go a long way in achieving objectives set

Be open to their suggestions and find ways to incorporate their needs and preferences into the agreement. Offer different sponsorship levels with varying benefits to accommodate their budget and goals. Ensure that the agreement is clear, realistic, and mutually agreed upon in writing to avoid misunderstandings. Keep communication channels open throughout the process to maintain a positive and collaborative relationship.

Businesses will always look out for numbers. It is important to propose a clear value proposition. Even where they are obliged to contribute through CSR, there should be a clear big picture. It is important to align a fundraiser with a particular business strategic focus.

Once you receive the commitment, it is very easy to just move on. Fatal mistake especially if you want to return to that donor sometime in the futures. They committed and so should you. As pleasing as it is to receive the donation so is being thanked and recognised for it. If its an ongoing project make sure you keep the sponsors in the loop maybe every 6 months with an update on how their funds are going, being used. You never know when you may want to knock on their door again.If they are continually updated & up to speed on where the project is most likely they will support again. It feels good to give. it feels better seeing progress & change you have made over time. Make the partnership sustainable in longevity. Continual Thanks !

An old adage stated that it is best to thank a donor at least seven times for each gift they make. This will increase the likelihood they give again and if approached for increased support will provide it. So much like we are counseled to have multi-channel fundraising campaigns, we need to have multi-channel acknowledgement campaigns. Where possible, especially for new, increased and significant donors, at least one of these thank yous should be a personal and 1 to 1 as possible. A call is good.

On average, donors need to be thanked at least 8 times before their next gift— you should be thinking the same when it comes to business owners! Doing multiple touchpoints builds stronger relationships with your partner. And a handwritten thank you afterwards goes a long way.

Express sincere gratitude through personalized thank-you notes or certificates recognizing their contribution. Follow up with a report showcasing the event's success, highlighting their impact and the positive outcomes achieved. Consider ongoing engagement, such as sharing event photos, testimonials, or future collaboration ideas to maintain a positive relationship.

Thank them personally and publicly, and demonstrate how much you value their contribution. Feature their logo and name prominently on event materials, such as flyers, banners, and tickets. Acknowledge their support on your website, social media channels, and in your newsletter. Invite them to attend the event and provide opportunities for them to interact with attendees. Consider sending a thank-you card, certificate, plaque, or gift after the event to show your appreciation.

Post-event, maintaining and strengthening relationships is paramount. After a charity bike ride organized by my NGO, HER Planet Earth, ongoing communication with sponsors included updates on the impact of their contributions, stories from the beneficiaries of our funds. Establishing a connection beyond the event ensures partners remain engaged and provides opportunities for future collaborations. Regular updates, newsletters, and invitations to follow-up events contribute to a sustained and mutually beneficial relationship. It's really about building that trust and long term partnership.

Sustainable relationships are maintained through strengthened mutually beneficial relationships. As with any funding organization, the local businesses you work with would want to understand the impact and change their support is bringing to the groups reached. They would also want to understand whether they are deriving value for money and determine whether they want to increase their level of funding and project scope. To continue tapping into local business funding, it is important to keep them informed of the project progress, achievements, challenges experienced and mitigations put in place to succeed. Share stories of change, conduct review sessions and organize meetings with the local business donors in attendance.

One thing I would ask your sponsor, is what information do they want provided, in what format it should be provided in, and how frequently it should be presented. Many organizations are happy to give and would like to include giving information in their information to their boards or stakeholder groups. Perhaps this information is only needed in a short newsletter once a year, or maybe an in person presentation is needed (depending on the size of the contribution). The only way to know, is to ask the sponsor!

Most of organisations think when the event is over and we have what we intended is the end of the game. Actually, best event organisers consider the end of the event as the start of real fundraising. The event just bring people together but the real deal is how you maintain your relationship with participants of the event after the event. This is the real challenge of the business partner relationship.

It's essential to maintain and strengthen the relationship for potential future collaborations. Keep in touch regularly, updating them on your progress and achievements. Provide them with a report showcasing the results of their support. Ask for their feedback and suggestions for improvement. Look for opportunities to support their business in return, such as promoting their events or referring customers. By nurturing this relationship, you can build a lasting partnership that benefits both parties.

Anytime I collaborate with another organization or business, I always follow up with a "thank you" email or note. I find it works best to personalize this note but including a post-event survey (via QR code or google form) can be extremely beneficial. Oftentimes, when people are able to provide feedback in a safe space, after they have had a chance to reflect on the event, they are likely to give constructive and genuine feedback.

To engage local businesses in fundraising events, start by researching their interests and community involvement. Craft personalized proposals outlining how their participation can benefit both the cause and their brand visibility. Highlight past successful collaborations or similar events to showcase potential outcomes and build trust.

The organization I work for gives in accordance with our mission, and focuses on communities where our people and employees live and work. As an Alaska Native organization, our organization funds tribal projects and programs, rural schools, community projects, and programs that focus on healthy people and or Alaska Native Languages revitalization.

Show them how unique your organization is. What specific problem are you addressing? Who is the direct beneficiary? How have/are you changing the beneficiary's life? How can the business help, do not be focussed on money. Make it easy for the business to want to help show them how they can help.

Learning and improving can be done by applying what was learnt. One wise man once said learning is the change in behaviour brought about by acquiring knowledge or past experiences. Another wise man once said if someone tries something more than once without any change in the method or approach it will be strange to expect a different results. So ideally it's better to learn from other people's mistakes than to learn from one's own mistakes which might be costly or difficult to reverse.

I totally agree with so many of the suggestions and I would add that you should keep your financial ask at a reasonable level. A small business can't afford what corporate American can. So the pitch should be for a low dollar amount--they can always give more!

I find attending others’ events one of the best ways to get new ideas, observe what works (and perhaps doesn’t), support others doing good work in the community, and learn. It’s also a great way to “audition” vendors by watching them in action—benefit auctioneers, caterers, bartenders, and venues—before hiring them yourself.

Handwritten notes and telephone calls are impactful. With one nonprofit I worked with we had board members who made telephone calls to say thank you to our donors. One of our largest donors talked for years about how she saved a voicemail from the board member because it was so meaningful to her for him as a volunteer to call and say thank you.

Approach local businesses with a clear proposal outlining the event's purpose, benefits, and how they can contribute. Offer various levels of involvement, such as sponsorships, in-kind donations, or setting up booths at the event. Highlight the promotional opportunities for them, like logo placement, social media exposure, or being featured in event materials.

Recruiting a senior volunteer board or event committee who are willing to open up their network can be an invaluable source of introductions, ideas and support. Of course these groups take time and effort to manage and get the most from, but in my experience, when done right, the payback can be tremendous. The key to success is involving the right individuals and the right mix of personalities and experience. As well as helping to deliver successful events and achieve target, I've found the experience of working with talented business leaders personally rewarding. Win win.