Playbooks

How to Tap Into Corporate Giving

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Rost-9D, Getty Images

February 20, 2025 | Read Time: 2 minutes

Focusing on corporate support is smart: Companies give away billions to nonprofits each year, and these contributions are growing, even as overall charitable giving is on the decline.

But it can be hard to know how best to approach a potential corporate partner, present an appealing case for support, and build a long-term relationship that will benefit both organizations.

Plus, working with companies requires patience. It typically takes about 18 months for successful partnerships to come to fruition, says David Hessekiel, founder of Engage for Good. Corporate partnerships are complex: With frequent budgeting and planning cycles, busy schedules, changes in personnel, required approvals, and other factors, these alliances are not for organizations with short timelines.

Read on for advice, ideas, and case studies that can help you jump-start your strategy to engage businesses and increase corporate support.

Editor’s note: Chronicle playbooks are updated on an ongoing basis as new advice becomes available.