March 16, 2016

Why Your Business Cash Provides Extraordinary Nonprofit Returns

plant growing in an eggshell siting on a bunch of coins

Nonprofits are keen to receive your firm’s support. Perhaps there’s a phone call coming in now, a meeting on your schedule, or a request or three, in your inbox. Whatever you decide to do, your cash will be very welcome.

Here’s why:

1. Cash-strapped
Nonprofits are cash-strapped. You know this. What you probably don’t know is that most nonprofits, even with budgets greater than yours, struggle to obtain unrestricted revenue. Foundations fund projects. Government contracts insist on specific expenditures. Individual donors prefer “cute” recipients. Therefore, cash from businesses provides unusual value and leverage potential. With it, nonprofits buy boring essentials and fund exciting initiatives, and meet in-between needs. They also provide you with leverage. In one case, your $500 donation moves you to the front of a three-month waiting list for a team volunteer experience.

2. The Few
Healthy nonprofits, like healthy businesses, generate communities around them. Healthy nonprofit communities generate donations of time, advice, and few dollars. Your cash stands out. From here, you can discover possibilities and formulate ideas to reach goals you can’t do by yourselves, such as joint marketing, networking, and referrals.

3. Competitive Advantage
Many grant applications ask nonprofits to list corporate donations. Nonprofits that leave this section blank score lower. Cash gifts from businesses allow nonprofits that seek grants, especially in the bigger races for bigger funds, to score better. Your dollars can help them to bring new money and prestige to your community by helping them win state and national competitions. Cash is a whole lot more valuable than you expect. Your dollars go farther with nonprofits. They hold the potential to create extraordinary returns for the nonprofit and you.

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Author
Karen Eber Davis

Karen Eber Davis provides customized advising and coaching around nonprofit strategy and board development. People leaders hire her to bring clarity to sticky situations, break through barriers that seem insurmountable, and align people for better futures. She is the author of 7 Nonprofit Income Streams and Let's Raise Nonprofit Millions Together.

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