With the right connections, corporate gifts can be an easy way to add big dollars towards your chapter's fundraising goal. Use the resources below to get things rolling with corporate fundraising in your chapter.
1. Make a list of potential leads.
What major companies are based in your geography? Who do you know in your network? And who do your volunteers know? Where do your volunteers work? Check out Room to Read’s Top Donors to get a sense of the types of companies that are already supporting Room to Read. Other resources to help you identify good leads include:
- CF Donor List, which provides a list of Room to Read’s Corporate and Foundation Partners from 2015 or 2016.
- CF Brochure, which provides an overview of corporate partnerships.
- Industry Targets, which shares specific industries and companies with which Room to Read is looking to partner.
2. Conduct research to verify giving potential and fit with Room to Read.
Do they give internationally? If so, is there overlap between the geographies they are focused on and Room to Read's current countries of operation?
Do they give to education? Will they fund literacy or gender equality in education programs? Do they give to international women's issues?
What is their average grant amount? Is there an application process? If so, is there specific timing that needs to be considered?
Could they be a good fit for an employee fundraising campaign? You can refer to the Employee Engagement two-pager for more information about these campaigns.
Do your research on the company's website or look in the Foundation Center's Foundation Finder. You can find their 990 tax form at www.guidestar.org.
3. Engage directly or submit your lead to the Room to Read team
If you have a lead that is a good fit for local events or is with a local organization and no documentation is needed in the form of an application or signed agreement, you should pursue the partnership directly!
If you have a lead that you think is a good fit for a larger partnership, complete the Partnership Inquiry Form on Room to Read’s website to pass the lead to the Room to Read team. Here are a few tips on when you should fill out a form:
- To inquire about a potential lead if you are not sure if Room to Read has/has had a relationship with the company or foundation
- To pass along a lead at a company or foundation with a national/global reach
- To pass along a lead at a potential publisher who could donate new children’s books (see our Gifts-in-kind two-pager for in-kind guidelines)
- To pass along a lead at a tech company with software that may be useful or hardware, tablets, laptops, etc.
For additional information on when to fill out the Partnership Inquiry Form, and what happens once you submit the form, please refer to the Partnership Inquiry Form Overview slides 12-22.