NFPs Must Develop Global Partnerships: New Research
12 October 2010 at 11:48 am
New research shows Not for Profits that want to engage with corporates beyond simple fundraising need to develop meaningful global partnerships and adapt faster to changing economic conditions.
Fiona Duncan, director at consultancy Think Consulting, will unveil the findings of major new research into global trends in corporate engagement and how it affects Not for Profit organisations at the 30th International Fundraising Congress (IFC) in October, the world’s leading conference for fundraising development.
The research findings, based on interviews with selected, major charities and corporates based in mature fundraising markets such as the UK, US, Canada and the Netherlands, examine changes in the requirements, demands and expectations placed on charities engaged in a corporate relationship.
Duncan says charities need to form partnerships to increase levels of engagement with corporates but if they want to engage on a big level, they will need to look outside their country of origin.
She says charities that may be a big player in their domestic market need to be prepared to become a smaller player on a global scale if they are to form global partnerships.
Duncan adds that the global economic downturn has accelerated a change in the way companies view partnerships with Not for Profit organisations.
She gives the example of how some charities that have an impact in emerging economies such as the BRIC markets (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are becoming increasingly more attractive to corporates.
She says there are many competing trends influencing the way corporates view partnerships with the Not for Profit sector, which are now being taken more seriously.
Duncan says if charities get it right, they can shape the way business behaves – if they get it wrong, they risk giving business the opportunity to shape the way charities behave.
Duncan will be presenting a one-day masterclass at this year’s International Fundraising Congress, focusing on the changing face of corporate partnerships and emerging trends in corporate engagement.
Developed by the Resource Alliance, the 30th International Fundraising Congress (IFC) takes place between 19 – 22 October 2010 at Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands. The IFC is one of the world's leading conferences for senior fundraisers, an international platform that annually brings together more than 1,000 fundraisers from over 50 countries for learning, high level debate and networking.
For more information about the 30th IFC, visit www.resource-alliance.org/ifc
