Doing Good Together: How Nonprofits Can Leverage Corporate Synergies (RN16)

A Guide for Non-profit Board Members and Staff Leaders

Corporations know they can do well by doing good. By aligning themselves with causes that matter to their customers, companies strengthen their relationships with existing clients and attract new ones who value the missions they support. One powerful example of this kind of partnership is the collaboration between Talbots and Dress for Success—an initiative that shows what’s possible when branding, mission, and generosity come together.

Co-Branding and Joint Programming is the second partnership strategy to consider. For more, please review “It’s Time to Look Around”, or stay turned for more blog posts.

A Model for Mission-Aligned Corporate Sponsorship

The Talbots–Dress for Success partnership isn’t just about writing a check. It’s a thoughtfully integrated, multi-year campaign that unites two missions: women’s empowerment through style, and women’s economic independence. Through their campaign, Talbots invites loyal customers to “give confidence, hope, and style” to other women. The results speak for themselves:

• $9 million in donations

• 200,000 women positively impacted

• 400,000 clothing and accessory items donated

• 1.5 billion media impressions

This level of impact isn’t achieved by accident. It’s the product of alignment, planning, and mutually beneficial strategy. Nonprofits that seek corporate support need to think beyond a sponsorship banner at a gala and instead look toward strategic collaboration that brings value to both parties.

Why Corporations Engage

More than ever, businesses are expected to demonstrate social responsibility. Corporate social impact isn’t just about philanthropy—it’s about branding, customer loyalty, employee engagement, and even investor interest. Companies want to:

• Align with causes that resonate with their customers

• Provide opportunities for employee involvement

• Gain visibility in meaningful and authentic ways

• Drive home their values as part of their brand story

A well-designed partnership helps achieve these goals. And for nonprofits, it offers something equally valuable: money, visibility, access, and momentum.

What Nonprofits Should Offer

To make the most of these opportunities, nonprofits must enter the conversation ready to exchange value. Corporate sponsors are asking: What’s in it for us?

Here’s what nonprofits can bring to the table:

• Credibility and mission clarity

• Access to a loyal and passionate community

• Media and public relations opportunities

• Creative, story-rich content that elevates both brands

• Engagement opportunities for employees or customers

A good partnership package doesn’t just list sponsorship levels—it tells a compelling story of joint impact. When nonprofit and business values align, the outcome can be far greater than the sum of its parts.

Making It Work: Key Elements of a Successful Collaboration

Whether you’re pursuing a local business or a national brand, consider these building blocks:

1. Shared Values and Audience Overlap
   The most enduring partnerships come from mutual interests. Do your mission and the company’s brand story connect in a meaningful way? Will their customers and your supporters see the logic?

2. Integrated Visibility
   Make the partnership visible across both platforms—social media, newsletters, packaging, storefronts, and press releases. Like Talbots and Dress for Success, let the world know about the collaboration.

3. Clear Roles and Expectations
   Agree on what success looks like, who is doing what, and how impact will be measured. Make it easy for each partner to do their part without confusion or overlap.

4. Tangible Impact Metrics
   What can you report at the end of the year? Whether it's meals served, books donated, or job placements achieved, concrete numbers help both brands tell a winning story.

5. Ongoing Relationship Building
   A one-time donation is nice. A multi-year relationship, rooted in shared goals and mutual respect, is transformative.

A Call to Think Bigger

Many nonprofits hesitate to approach corporate sponsors, worried they’ll be seen as just another ask. But businesses are actively looking for partnerships that add meaning to their work—and nonprofits bring exactly that to the table.

So look around. Is there a corporate partner whose mission aligns with yours? What can you offer in return for their support? What could you build together?

Because when mission-driven nonprofits and values-driven companies join forces, everybody wins—especially the communities you serve.

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Is your nonprofit experiencing challenges

Capitalizing on the pivotal opportunity that leadership transitions offer, Interim Executive Solutions (IES) strengthens nonprofits by placing and supporting experienced leaders who work inside organizations to provide confidence, reduce stress and take action that prepares the organization to thrive. Our core values are:

• Inquisitiveness: uncovering and prioritizing organizational needs and capabilities

• Inclusiveness: embracing the power of diverse perspectives, experiences and orientations

• Transparency: gathering and sharing factual information to improve operations

• Collective Action: building the capacity of team-members to sustainably achieve the mission

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About the author:

I lead Interim Executive Solutions, a national organization exclusively dedicated to placing and supporting professional interim leaders for nonprofits. We get nonprofits to what's next. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcharris/