2024 has provided a lot of challenges for both charities and businesses. In tough times it is especially important to focus on the positives. This is the perfect time of year to stop for a moment and reflect. So, we want to share our five corporate partnerships lessons from 2024. 

Keep it simple 
Companies are juggling lots of priorities, so it can be hard to get there. We have seen that the charities who keep it simple are getting the best results. Detailed written documents, long emails and pitches listing the volume of programmes that your charity delivers are not getting cut through. So, when time is short, getting to the point quickly and haring the emotional and commercial reasons to partner is the key to success. 

Power of insight 
More than ever, companies are looking for evidence of the return on investment (ROI) for supporting a charity. This year we launched our Profitable Partnerships Research, which shared evidence that charity partnerships help company’s deliver their commercial goals. We encourage you to use this research, and your own calculations of the value your charity brings, to persuade companies to partner with you. 

Networking produces results 
As Daniel Priestley says, “You get what you pitch for, and you’re always pitching.” It is vital that we find ways to network with our target audience. Fundraisers who put themselves out there and attend networking events are experiencing greater success in 2024. Lyndsay Dixon from SolarAid said, “2024 has really produced results for us from networking. By attending solar industry events, we have built relationships, developed our prospect list and won partnerships.” 

Build a partnerships culture 
Corporate partnerships are a team game. In 2024 we have seen that the charities whose senior management team, trustees and colleagues are all on the same page are the ones who are gaining momentum in corporate partnerships. Contact mapping is a great way to involve your senior colleagues and identify new business leads.  

Find the company’s pain 
The most valuable advice that we have given to our charity clients in 2024 is “Find the company’s pain.” It could be they are struggling to retain their talented employees, or may they find it difficult to stand out from the competition. Once you know their pain, you can partnership opportunity that helps solve it. This will make you a priority for your corporate prospects. 

Although 2024 has been tough, we have seen the enduring courage and resilience of corporate fundraisers, battling the head winds to build world-changing partnerships.  

We hope these five lessons are useful to you. 

If you have feedback on our blog, or have questions about our services to get you corporate partnerships results in 2025, then please contact us: team@remarkablepartnerships.com.  

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You can also:

1. Check out our training courses: https://www.remarkablepartnerships.com/training/
2. Connect with us on LinkedIn: Jonathan Andrews, Georgina Oxlade and Peter Chiswick
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