By: Ashley Byars

In today’s world, technology plays a vital role in every aspect of life, and fundraising and relationship building are no exception. For nonprofits, making connections with corporations can be a game-changer. These partnerships provide much-needed resources, boost brand awareness and create a powerful force for positive change.

But how can nonprofits leverage technology to build stronger relationships with corporations? In our new series, Tech for Good, we explore the technology tools that partnership practitioners use in a variety of ways to find, manage and maintain corporate collaborations.

Here in Part 1, we cover tech to help you manage partnership outreach and account management. Check out key tools.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Platforms

CRM platforms are essential for managing donor and supporter interactions. They can be adapted for corporate relationships, too. Use a CRM to track communication with potential corporate partners, record their interests and giving history and personalize outreach efforts.

Explore these popular CRMs.

1. Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud: Nonprofit Cloud makes it easy to manage relationships among corporate donors, program partners and volunteers. Used by more than 50,000 nonprofits, Nonprofit Cloud was built for the nonprofit community by the nonprofit community to help you consistently organize your data.
2. Kindful from Bloomerang: Also built specifically for nonprofits, this CRM lets you track your communications with corporate prospects all in one place, including predictive technology for when and how much they are likely to donate in the future. Used by more than 23,000 nonprofits, Bloomerang offers integrated dashboards, constituent timelines and data segmentation to help you manage donors, volunteers, funding and payments.
3.  Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT Prospect Insights: Insights is a new software tool in Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT that uses AI-powered insights to help nonprofits increase their major gifts. Prospect Insights is extremely beneficial at helping nonprofits target corporations for partnerships and increase their major gifts. In addition, their YourCause CSRconnect platform can be integrated to manage all aspects of employee engagement programs and corporate purpose.

 

Networking & Matching Platforms

Several online platforms connect nonprofits with businesses seeking cause-aligned partnerships. Sites like Idealist and GuideStar allow nonprofits to create detailed profiles promoting their mission and impact. These platforms also feature search filters for corporations to find nonprofits that align with their social responsibility goals.

Social Media for Engagement

Social media giants like LinkedIn and Instagram are excellent for building relationships through thought leadership. Nonprofits can use these platforms to connect with corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals, share their impact stories and engage in conversations about shared goals. One great way to begin building these relationships is by simply asking CSR professionals to connect and then invite them to follow your nonprofit’s LinkedIn page. There is a button on your organization’s page that says “invite connections” where you can quickly send a message for them to follow the page and receive the latest updates on your organization’s work.

Data & Analytics Tools

Data is king! Platforms like the CRMs above not only allow you to steward potential corporate partners, but also allow nonprofits to track the effectiveness of their corporate outreach efforts. Analyze data to see what messaging resonates with corporations, identify successful partnerships and refine your approach for future connections.

Building Stronger Partnerships

Technology is a powerful tool, but genuine relationships are key to successful partnerships.

• Do your research: Identify corporations whose values align with your mission.
• Personalize your approach: Tailor your outreach to highlight how your organization can help meet the corporation’s CSR goals.
• Focus on mutual benefit: Demonstrate the value your nonprofit brings to the partnership.
• Communicate effectively: Maintain clear and consistent communication with your corporate partners.

By embracing technology and fostering genuine connections, nonprofits can build strong partnerships with corporations, ultimately amplifying their impact and creating a better world.

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For Momentum has found and managed partnerships for dozens of clients over our twenty-year history. With our team of experts, we can help you develop a winning corporate partnership outreach strategy that drives results.