Raising More Money from Your Business Community

Web/Audio Conference - AFP Greater Arizona Chapter
Date/Time: Wednesday, August 24. 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Rio Salado College Conference Center. 2323 W. 14th Street, Tempe, AZ 85281

Although corporations and businesses contribute just over 4% of all philanthropic dollars (over $14 billion in 2009) in the United States, much more is given through gifts in kind, corporate sponsorships, and personal donations of individual corporate leaders. And, in a typical capital campaign, businesses often provide a much more significant percentage of the overall goal. However many nonprofits fail to touch their local business community for a variety of reasons. In this webinar, they will discuss how to approach corporate leaders, how to motivate them to become involved in your organization, and how to develop a corporate appeal. 

Presenter Linda Lysakowski, ACFRE, is one of fewer than 100 professionals worldwide to hold the Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive designation and has trained more than 18,000 professionals in all aspects of development in Canada, Mexico, Egypt, and most of the fifty United States. Linda is the author of Recruiting and Training Fundraising Volunteers, The Development Plan, Fundraising as a Career: What, Are You Crazy? Everything You Wanted to Know about Capital Campaigns, The Genius' Guide to Fundraising, a contributing author to The Fundraising Feasibility Study - It's Not About the Money, co-editor of You and Your Nonprofit, and co-author of The Essential Nonprofit Fundraising Handbook.

My Takeaways:

First of all, I've never been privvy to the concept of web/audio conference. But basically, you're in a room with other people listening in on the call and watching the webinar online, something you would normally do by yourself. 

Second, this experience was my second experience with this web/audio conference concept and it was marred by the fact that the sound went out on page 7 of the presentation and came back in bits and spurts, so I didn't get the full effect of the workshop. Especially since I was really looking forward to attending.

Other things I learned:

• Corporate giving is often the route to individual gifts from corporate leaders
• Corporate volunteer programs can add significantly to the bottom line of nonprofits
• Who are the real potential donors? Not the typical "Big Money" places
• Ask for money, and you'll get advice; ask for advice and you'll get money
• Do the "rubber chicken circuit" (mixers, business breakfasts, networking events)
• Know your case and be able to present it to the business community - Show how your business can benefit their bottom line 
• Work with the business community - How does your business community work? How does your business relate to theirs?
• Businesses look at their bottom line, efficiency/transparency, impact on community, partnership opportunities and recognition
• Conduct "cultivation activities" such as tours, individual meetings/advice meetings, involvement in your organization
• The board's role is hosting cultivation events/activities, opening doors, and the development committee
• Volunteers, structure, the case, choosing the right prospects, training and reporting make it successful