Resources - Giving and Getting Support

With a variety of different ways of donating and receiving support - and plenty of scope for creativity - partnership working between businesses and voluntary sector organisations has never been more flexible or rewarding.

Top Tips

Looking for a good fit?

Business Community Connections suggest a four step approach to identifying suitable companies to approach for support:

  • Step 1: Define your organisation clearly. Identify a specific project for support. Draw up a detailed plan including practical details (location, costs, resources), objective and marketing or image. 
  • Step 2: Turn each element into a benefit, e.g. enhancing the local reputation of a business with a particular group of customers such as young people or mothers; improving relationships with the community through closer interaction.
  • Step 3: Identify suitable business types, in line with step 1. What size business are you looking for? Would you want to work with local or national companies? What size of business and how many employees will you require? Which businesses share your objectives? Which businesses would complement your project or organisation?
  • Step 4: Identify specific businesses that match one or more of the elements -the better the match, the higher your chances of success. There are various websites and organisations which can support you in identifying suitable partners and are experienced in addressing skill gaps and matching businesses and charities.

Selling your organisation

Profit is the bottom line for the majority of companies and ensuring that you demonstrate your potential in terms of profit is therefore key to establishing successful relationships.

  • Preparation. Research any organisations that you will be approaching and identify shared objectives.  Consider how a relationship with your organisation might be profitable to them (e.g. in terms of better access of the community, new markets or an improved public profile).
  • Examples.  If you can provide concrete examples of successful relationships that your organisation has had with businesses, this can support your argument.  Try and collect testimonials or quotes from company's that you have already engaged with.
  • Facts and Figures. A few statistics can always support your case - providing, of course, that they are accurate! How many consummers value company's that demonstrate CSR? How many beneficiaries does your organisation reach? What are the outputs of your organisation?

Communicating your organisation's professional approach can encourage businesses co-operation and alleviate any concerns that they may have:

  • Target.  After identifying a relevant business, ensure that you have a contact name within the company to send any information or letters to. If you are unsure of who to approach, try and identify the individual responsible for charitable donations or the person who makes the decisions about company spending or key individuals within the marketing department. Make use of any existing contacts within the business.
  • Approach. A formal approach can successfully convey your organisation's professionalism - providing that it does the job! Keep letters brief (one side of A4), focussed (what are the key benefits of donating to your charity) and specific (when possible, request a specific amount of money or a specific product or service).
  • Be realistic.  Don't expect an immediate response - it may take an organisation some time to explore the options for donations and there may be procedures which have to be followed. Be realistic in your demands and try and match these to the size and capacity of the business which you are approaching.

Identifying a suitable beneficiary

  • Employee involvement.  Are there any charities that your employees have a personal interest in or are already involved in? Have your employees expressed an interest in supporting a particular charity?
  • Employee Relations. National charity days can provide an excellent opportunity for the workforce to come together in a common cause, boosting morale and improving relationships amongst staff. Some examples include Red Nose Day (March); Children in Need (Friday 16th November), whilst public holidays or seasonal events (Christmas or Harvest, for example) can also prove a pertinent time for raising money for charity. 
  • Public Relations.  Donating to local charities can raise your business' profile in the community and demonstrate your social responsibility.
  • Partnership potential. Donating to related charities can provide useful relationships and present opportunities for efficient partnership working.

Professional Services

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Case Studies

Giving Specialist Support to VSOs

Caroline Cook works for Business in the Community and volunteers in her spare time as a trustee with St Albans Council for Voluntary Service (CVS). As a business mentor she is also able to offer free 1:1 support and advice to their Chief Executive in the areas of business engagement and social responsibility. This has helped the CVS to prioritise and develop these areas of their strategic plan without the need for an expensive consultant.

Useful Links

Charity of the Year Partnerships report
Case studies which illustrate different types of partnerships, ranging from staff fundraising through to in-kind support and volunteering. 

Crash
The construction and property industry charity for the homeless

Arts and Business
Works to lever in financial support and professional advice to the arts.
 
Business in the Community (BiTC)
BiTC assist businesses to integrate responsible practices in all their activities 

The Small Business Journey
This is a way for small businesses to realize more value by behaving responsibly. The site takes you on a Journey and features case studies, news and guidance. 
 
The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Works to support a wide range of businesses and the people who work in them. They represent business needs at all levels and give access to a wealth of business information. 
 
Connect Dacorum
Within Dacorum, “Connect Dacorum” is a Community Action Dacorum project, which matches local businesses and voluntary organisations according to the needs of each. Maybe there is a similar organisation in your community. 
 
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
 
Business Community Connections
Free online services that help match charities and companies.

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