here - Tamarack CCI

Step 2: Clarify What You Would Like Business to Contribute
Regardless of the nature of the relationship you would like to have
with the business sector, it is helpful to be clear about the specific
contributions you hope to gain. The most common assets that
businesses have to bring to a collaboration for social transformation
are as follows:
Finances – This is typically the first thing non-profits think of when
they imagine collaborating with businesses. Most businesses have
either a formal or informal corporate donations program. Smaller
businesses tend to provide goods and services to support local small
scale events. Larger businesses often provide significant amounts of
money and even become the official sponsors of social change initiatives. Businesses rarely
contribute to the core funding of community based organizations, but the money they provide
can be extremely helpful in enhancing programming.
Expertise – Businesses have lots of expertise that can benefit the community sector. Non-profits
have benefited greatly from the legal, financial, and human relations expertise of the corporate
world. Their staff have also benefited from mentoring relationships that have provided skills and
perspectives not readily available within their own organizations.
Facilities – Businesses are sometimes able to provide office space, meeting room space, training
space, or storage space for non-profit organizations. Sometimes this is temporary space used to
accommodate a specific program or event. Sometimes it is long term space that allows the nonprofit
to use its cash resources for other things.
Advocacy – Businesses have credibility and influence in circles that non-profits may not. It can
be extremely helpful to have business people advocate on your behalf to politicians, funders or
other business people. The Chicago Metropolis 2020 organization is a highly developed illustration of
how extensive such advocacy can be.
Access to networks – Business people know lots of other business people. They can be
extremely helpful in providing access to networks of other businesses that are able to offer any of
the above contributions. When a business contact provides access to larger business networks,
the impact of nurturing a relationship with one business can be substantially enlarged.
Employment – Employment strategies remain amongst the most critical interventions to
improve the quality of life of low-income households. The business sector is a huge employer. As
the shortage of skilled workers continues to grow, employers will be increasingly attracted to
working with non-profit organizations to assist job seekers with employment barriers to be ready
for work.
Businesses can offer jobs. All of the business members of the Industry Council who are supporting
Woodgreen’s Homeward Bound program provide job opportunities to participants.
Collaborating with Business for Social Transformation
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