Giving Compass' Take:

• The author provides advice on how to start a partnership between corporations and nonprofit organizations and to ensure that there will be effective and successful corporate volunteer programs. 

• What are some of the benefits to corporate-nonprofit partnerships beyond volunteering? 

• Read about the different ways to find high-quality volunteers.

Corporate volunteer programs offer an incredible opportunity for nonprofit organizations to partner with businesses to advance awareness of and raise money for their cause. A nonprofit liaison with a company creates a situation where everyone wins: the nonprofit gets the assistance it needs while the business benefits from building their brand and generating positive impressions throughout the community.

Choosing the right business or businesses to partner with, however, is critical. You need to partner with an organization whose values mirror your organization’s goals.

One suggestion is to create a list of potential business partners in your community. Start by writing down the names of about 15 to 30 businesses who may make good partners. Then eliminate certain ones based on specific criteria. For example, if your nonprofit is in a rural area, proximity may be a major limiting factor. You may also need to do further research to determine if the company shares your organization’s goals and mission.

One example of a wildly successful corporate partnership is the new liaison between Food Lion, a for-profit grocery chain, and the Albemarle Food Pantry. In advance of the Albemarle Food Pantry’s grand opening, grocery giant Food Lion fully stocked their pantry for opening day.

A bit of tact and diplomacy go a long way toward creating lasting relationships, especially in business situations. Instead of nitpicking over minor errors, praise the excellent job your new partner and their employees are doing for you.

Read the full article about corporate-nonprofit volunteer partnerships by Kayla Matthews at VolunteerMatch.