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Corporate Partnerships in a Season of Change: Trends to Watch

Corporate Partnerships in a Season of Change: Trends to Watch

Oct 9, 2025

Headlines are moving fast these days. U.S. tariffs, shifting global markets, a Canadian election. And while these stories may feel far from your day-to-day fundraising, they’re not. We’re stepping into a season of change, and that uncertainty will influence how companies give, partner, and show up.

This isn’t about crystal ball predictions. I want to share a few trends and strategies that can help nonprofit leaders navigate the months ahead.

Why Happy You Year?

Why Happy You Year?

Dec 3, 2024

As we reflect on the past year and look forward to the next, it’s important to celebrate not just our individual achievements but the power of our connections.

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Partnerships

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Corporate Fundraising That Works

A 60-min Masterclass, hosted by Charity Village, authored by Heather Nelson. On-demand, $99, and full of value to get you started.

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Sponsorships

Why Happy You Year?

Why Happy You Year?

Dec 3, 2024

As we reflect on the past year and look forward to the next, it’s important to celebrate not just our individual achievements but the power of our connections.

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News

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YouTube Videos

There is no shortage of noise right now. Conversations about the economy, government priorities, and shifting corporate focus are everywhere. But when you step back, some clear patterns are starting to emerge in corporate partnerships. In this session, Heather shares what she is seeing and hearing from the field, alongside insights from others across the sector. These are not predictions. They are observations grounded in real conversations, conferences, and active partnerships. She looks at what is starting to take shape and where organizations are seeing momentum. In this session, Heather covers: Sectors and themes that are standing out What’s influencing corporate partnerships right now Strategies that are working to build corporate partnerships If you are looking to stay informed, sense where things are heading, and make thoughtful decisions about your corporate partnerships, this session will give you a practical and grounded perspective. ______________ JOIN ME: If you like this video hit "LIKE", and if you are working in corporate partnerships and sponsorships regularly, please "SUBSCRIBE" to this channel, so you can get regular videos from me that are practical, cheerleading and inspirational advice on how to raise more money from companies. https://www.youtube.com/@heatherbridgeraise 👉 LIKE this video if you found it helpful & COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway! Who am I? I'm Heather Nelson and I'm a Corporate Sponsorship Specialist. I help nonprofits and charities of all sizes raise more money from companies. My boutique consultancy BridgeRaise focuses entirely on corporate partnerships and corporate sponsorships for nonprofits. LOOKING TO CONNECT? REACH OUT! Email: heather@bridgeraise.com Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Blog: https://www.bridgeraise.com/blog/ LinkedIn: / @nelsonheather Instagram: / @bridgeraise
What’s Emerging in Corporate Partnerships Right Now
Andy King joined me to break down why companies really give and what fundraisers often get wrong about corporate partnerships. Drawing on his UK-based research, Why Companies Give in Their Own Words, Andy will share what motivates companies to invest, what holds them back, and what nonprofits need to understand to build stronger partnerships. You’ll leave this conversation with a clearer understanding of what companies actually want and how to approach your next corporate conversation with more confidence. In this session, we dived into: -What truly drives companies to give, and the assumptions nonprofits need to rethink -The most important drivers of successful corporate partnerships -What “alignment” really looks like from a company’s perspective -One practical takeaway you can apply to your very next corporate conversation Here is the full report we are discussing - a must read: tinyurl.com/whycompaniesgive The ultimate goal is for you to better understand the business perspective behind corporate giving and use that insight to build stronger, more effective partnerships. Whether you’re building a corporate partnerships program or looking to strengthen the one you have, this conversation will help you better understand the business perspective behind corporate giving. ______________ JOIN ME: If you like this video hit "LIKE", and if you are working in corporate partnerships and sponsorships regularly, please "SUBSCRIBE" to this channel, so you can get regular videos from me that are practical, cheerleading and inspirational advice on how to raise more money from companies. https://www.youtube.com/@heatherbridgeraise 👉 LIKE this video if you found it helpful & COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway! Who am I? I'm Heather Nelson and I'm a Corporate Sponsorship Specialist. I help nonprofits and charities of all sizes raise more money from companies. My boutique consultancy BridgeRaise focuses entirely on corporate partnerships and corporate sponsorships for nonprofits. LOOKING TO CONNECT? REACH OUT! Email: heather@bridgeraise.com Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Blog: https://www.bridgeraise.com/blog/ LinkedIn: / @nelsonheather Instagram: / @bridgeraise
Why Companies Really Give (and What Fundraisers Often Miss)
The fix isn’t more names on a list. I get it. Everyone wants a big list of corporate prospects. It feels like action. It feels like progress. But often? It leads to overwhelm. And that overwhelm leads to rushed emails, limited research, and the dreaded “spray and pray” approach. Here’s the fix I know works (and have seen again and again): ✅ Start with a shorter list. ✅ Focus on alignment over volume. ✅ Prioritize thoughtful outreach and meaningful follow-up. Depth beats breadth, especially in corporate partnerships. So before you chase more names… check in. Are the ones you already have the right ones? ______________ JOIN ME: If you like this video hit "LIKE", and if you are working in corporate partnerships and sponsorships regularly, please "SUBSCRIBE" to this channel, so you can get regular videos from me that are practical, cheerleading and inspirational advice on how to raise more money from companies. https://www.youtube.com/@heatherbridgeraise 👉 LIKE this video if you found it helpful & COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway! Who am I? I'm Heather Nelson and I'm a Corporate Sponsorship Specialist. I help nonprofits and charities of all sizes raise more money from companies. My boutique consultancy BridgeRaise focuses entirely on corporate partnerships and corporate sponsorships for nonprofits. LOOKING TO CONNECT? REACH OUT! Email: heather@bridgeraise.com Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Blog: https://www.bridgeraise.com/blog/ LinkedIn: / @nelsonheather Instagram: / @bridgeraise
The Big List | Your Corporate Partnership Fix
For fundraisers looking to build lasting and meaningful corporate relationships, employee volunteering can be a powerful and sometimes overwhelming piece of the puzzle. Heather is joined by Farrah Rooney, G. Dipl. SRS, Manager of Corporate Citizenship at Volunteer Canada, to explore how well-structured corporate volunteering programs not only benefit communities and the organizations that serve them, but also strengthen alignment between companies and nonprofit missions. Farrah shares how volunteering continues to be a core pillar in corporate ESG and CSR strategies, what gives an organization "volunteering credibility" in the eyes of companies, and why a lack of volunteer alignment can be a competitive disadvantage for nonprofits. You’ll learn: ☑️ Why volunteering is becoming a critical factor for companies when choosing nonprofit partners ☑️ How to frame volunteer opportunities that deliver value to both sides ☑️ How volunteering can deepen mission alignment and set you up for multi-year investments Meet Farrah Rooney, a social impact strategist and builder of resilient communities through purpose-driven corporate partnerships. At Volunteer Canada, she leads national programs that help companies engage employees in meaningful volunteering. With 15+ years across business, tech, and philanthropy, Farrah brings strategy, heart, and action to every table. ______________ JOIN ME: If you like this video hit "LIKE", and if you are working in corporate partnerships and sponsorships regularly, please "SUBSCRIBE" to this channel, so you can get regular videos from me that are practical, cheerleading and inspirational advice on how to raise more money from companies. https://www.youtube.com/@heatherbridgeraise 👉 LIKE this video if you found it helpful & COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway! Who am I? I'm Heather Nelson and I'm a Corporate Sponsorship Specialist. I help nonprofits and charities of all sizes raise more money from companies. My boutique consultancy BridgeRaise focuses entirely on corporate partnerships and corporate sponsorships for nonprofits. LOOKING TO CONNECT? REACH OUT! Email: heather@bridgeraise.com Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Blog: https://www.bridgeraise.com/blog/ LinkedIn: / @nelsonheather Instagram: / @bridgeraise
How Corporate Volunteering Strengthens Partnerships
Too many nonprofits operate with fundraising strategies that feel disconnected with each team focused on their own lane, their own goals, and their own deadlines. But when fundraising efforts exist in silos, opportunities for synergy, efficiency, and bigger impact get missed. In this LinkedIn Live, Heather spoke with Cathy Mann to explore what it means to build an integrated fundraising strategy.  A strategy that breaks down silos and aligns corporate partnerships, events, major gifts, and even program delivery into a cohesive, collaborative approach. You'll Hear: Why integrated fundraising is more than just good communication How corporate giving can support and be supported by other revenue streams Internal culture shifts that make integration possible What specific tactics you can use to move your organization in the right direction. About Cathy: A strategist with soul, Cathy is the sharp-witted powerhouse behind bold campaigns that marry mission with money. With 30+ years and recognition as Outstanding Fundraising Professional by AFP Greater Toronto, she's helped mission-driven organizations turn messy data into donor gold and fuzzy ideas into million-dollar visions. She believes great fundraising should be energizing, not soul-crushing. If you're not prepared to laugh a bit while building something amazing, maybe Cathy's not your Mann. ______________ JOIN ME: If you like this video hit "LIKE", and if you are working in corporate partnerships and sponsorships regularly, please "SUBSCRIBE" to this channel, so you can get regular videos from me that are practical, cheerleading and inspirational advice on how to raise more money from companies. https://www.youtube.com/@heatherbridgeraise 👉 LIKE this video if you found it helpful & COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway! Who am I? I'm Heather Nelson and I'm a Corporate Sponsorship Specialist. I help nonprofits and charities of all sizes raise more money from companies. My boutique consultancy BridgeRaise focuses entirely on corporate partnerships and corporate sponsorships for nonprofits. LOOKING TO CONNECT? REACH OUT! Email: heather@bridgeraise.com Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Blog: https://www.bridgeraise.com/blog/ LinkedIn: / @nelsonheather Instagram: / @bridgeraise
Integrated Fundraising: A Framework for Working Across Different Fundraising Pillars
Nonprofit leaders know the pressure: donors want proof of impact, not just stories. At the same time, resources are stretched thinner than ever. How do you show your outcomes clearly, credibly, and confidently? We cover that topic in this LinkedIn Live Edition with Lauren Ott, Head of Membership at Impact Genome, helping organizations leverage the Impact Verified® Seal to scale the way social impact is measured across sectors.: You’ll hear how nonprofits are using Impact Genome to: ✨ Show outcomes that go beyond anecdotes ✨ Build trust with donors through standardized, credible reporting ✨ Strengthen funding relationships, even when resources are stretched thin If you’re a nonprofit leader looking to move beyond outputs and into real impact reporting, this conversation is for you. About Lauren: Lauren Ott is a dynamic social entrepreneur and impact strategist, dedicated to helping organizations drive measurable change on the causes that matter most to communities. Her journey began teaching in a public high school classroom in Ecuador and has since spanned national and global stages—from shaping policy on Parliament Hill in Canada to building transformative partnerships with global brands like General Mills, Siemens, and KPMG. ______________ JOIN ME: If you like this video hit "LIKE", and if you are working in corporate partnerships and sponsorships regularly, please "SUBSCRIBE" to this channel, so you can get regular videos from me that are practical, cheerleading and inspirational advice on how to raise more money from companies. https://www.youtube.com/@heatherbridgeraise 👉 LIKE this video if you found it helpful & COMMENT below with your biggest takeaway! Who am I? I'm Heather Nelson and I'm a Corporate Sponsorship Specialist. I help nonprofits and charities of all sizes raise more money from companies. My boutique consultancy BridgeRaise focuses entirely on corporate partnerships and corporate sponsorships for nonprofits. LOOKING TO CONNECT? REACH OUT! Email: heather@bridgeraise.com Website: https://www.bridgeraise.com/ Blog: https://www.bridgeraise.com/blog/ LinkedIn: / @nelsonheather Instagram: / @bridgeraise #fundraising #CorporatePartnership #Lauren Ott #corporatefundraising #CorporateSponsorship #Nonprofits #HeatherNelson #BridgeRaise
How Nonprofits are Reporting Impact with Confidence in Challenging Times
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