Stefanie Mathew Strategies LLC

New blog post! ?? I'm happy to share the advice I often give nonprofits that are interested in launching a corporate partnerships program. It starts with developing some critical building blocks that will help you evaluate, structure, and implement strategic partnerships. Internal program infrastructure isn't always the sexiest topic, but if you're like me and you love a good template or process - this is the post for you! My fellow partnership pro's, I would love to hear your suggestions for how to get ready for corporate partnerships in the comments below.

I appreciate the advice in this great piece from my former colleague Tom Bartlett and Sara Gibson at 20 Degrees on steps that nonprofits and nonprofit leaders should be taking to prepare for whatever may come in 2025. It's definitely worth the read, as they articulate 3 key steps to take: 1. Plan for possible scenarios 2. Assess your cash position 3. Communicate your core values This is good advice for all of my nonprofit friends out there -- and for consultants, too. I'm bookmarking this one!

We are now accepting applications for the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship for 2025-2027! If you're ready to spend the next two years working for global food and nutrition security, developing your professional and leadership skills, and gaining critical experience in how to create a hunger-free world, we want to hear from you! Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis now through December 31, 2024. Learn more about the fellowship and how to prepare your application at our website. https://lnkd.in/dYE8rsdQ

Leave it to a sponsorship conference to come up with a fun new asset that combines audience participation and sponsor recognition! Kudos to Paula Beadle and the Sponsorship Marketing Association team, well played. ?? #sponsorship #SMS2024

I'm guessing most nonprofit fundraisers out there are deep in thinking about your Giving Tuesday plans for this year, and if you're not yet you probably should be! Last week, I was able to attend a really helpful AFP webinar with Frank Mumford, CFRE and Michael McCurdy sharing best practices and the latest trends for successful Giving Tuesday campaigns. The team at Gravyty has now put out this easy to use toolkit offering some of that same good advice and templates that you can use to develop your own campaign. It's definitely worth the read! A few of my favorite insights: ?? Giving Tuesday is an omnichannel opportunity. A lot of organizations focus on the digital components, but this is also a time to reach out by mail, the phone, and even in person. ?? Giving Tuesday is a great time to experiment with a variety of calls to action. Ask people to give, volunteer, share, and advocate for your cause. ?? Since the end of year is such a crowded time, it's often best to use Giving Tuesday to launch your year-end messaging and amplify - rather than cannibalize - your main fundraising appeal. If you run a Giving Tuesday campaign, what have you seen work well for your organization?

I am excited to share that I am working with the Congressional Hunger Center on a corporate partnership strategy project this fall! Founded in 1993 by bipartisan Members of Congress, the Hunger Center invests in people to become the change agents we need to end hunger. They do this through fellowships and education programs that increase the knowledge and skills needed to solve the complex problem of food insecurity - because in the fight to end hunger, people are our most powerful resource. To learn more about the Hunger Center's work, check out: www.hungercenter.org

I'm excited to share that I am now working with PetConnect Rescue, a wonderful animal rescue organization with a mission near and dear to my heart: to save the lives of abandoned dogs and cats and place them in loving permanent homes. I'm thrilled to be supporting their growth with new development planning and corporate partnership strategies. My two assistants are pretty excited about this project, too! You can learn more at: www.petconnectrescue.org!

I recently had the opportunity to work with - and learn from - the incredible, passionate, and hard-working Board of Teaching Artists of the Mid-Atlantic. Check out my latest blog post to learn more about TAMA's mission and the work we did together to help position the organization for corporate fundraising success!

The FSO was proud to showcase incredible student #artwork created through our Arts Integration #partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools at our season finale concert at George Mason University with renowned pianist, Jeffrey B.. Through an #innovative teaching process, Woodburn School for the Fine and Communicative Arts and Westlawn Elementary teachers used our recent "Rhapsody in Blue" program to inspire cross-curriculum learning and artistic expression. Students at Westlawn created landscape monoprints using a blue color scheme to depict what the world could look like in 100 years. The students at Woodburn created a colorful collage representing the mood of the music, a woven metal tapestry exploring themes of #diversity and #unity, plus wire sculpture musicians to form an orchestra of their own! The students, their teachers, and families then joined us to see their artwork displayed at GMU’s Center for the Arts and enjoy the unforgettable performance of Gershwin’s iconic piece. Thank you to our partners at FCPS & ArtsFairfax for your partnership to make this #creative and #inspiring showcase possible! Special thanks to Russian School of Mathematics for supporting this annual student event. To learn more about the FSO’s music education programs, visit us at www.fairfaxsymphony.org Photos: Stefanie Mathew & Lisa LaCamera Fairfax County Government; NPR; WETA; The Associated Press; Fairfax County Times; Rappahannock Media/InsideNoVa; Tysons Premier Magazine; Tysons Community Alliance; Patch.com; Northern Virginia Magazine; Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; Community Foundation for Northern Virginia; Virginia Funders Network #artseducation #musiceducation #fairfaxva #fairfaxcps #fcps #classicalmusic #creativity #passion #art #FairfaxCounty #virginia #Washingtondc #maryland #talent #inspiration #learning

The NEW WAVE SINGERS OF BALTIMORE INC is Maryland’s premier LGBTQ+ mixed chorus, welcoming members of all genders, identities and orientations. Their mission is: Through songs of hope, diversity, inclusion, and humor, we celebrate all of humanity in its infinite variations and challenge our communities to embrace equality, harmony, and understanding. I was really moved by their “Songs of Unity” concert this weekend, ranging from songs of strength and solidarity on the theme of “It Gets Better” to a madrigal-style arrangement of the Spice Girls. I laughed and cried, and I was proud to support their work with my very first program ad. ?? A big thanks to my grad school friend Liam Smith for introducing me to New Wave. Shoutout to the Carnegie Mellon University Master of Arts Management program, look at us still doing the thing! Happy Pride, everyone! ?????????? Learn more about the New Wave Singers here: www.newwavesingers.org