Newsletter: Funding Freeze: What Nonprofits Must Do NOW🚨; How to Approach Audience Research🔬; FCC Investigates PBS, NPR Sponsorship Practices 🔍
Three things this week.
☝️First, I've talked with some of you about the government's hold on grants and funding. Fortunately, the hold was lifted. But what happened SCARED THE 💩 out of people - and rightfully so.
People have asked: What can partnership teams do? Here's my three-point strategy.
Ask companies to step up and support you NOW. It’s the smart way to stay ahead of future challenges. You have a compelling case to make; chances are, the right people are ready to listen.
I know—you’re in corporate partnerships, not individual giving. However, the truth is that the best way to strengthen your nonprofit and your partnership program is to grow a broad and deep base of individual supporters. Why? Because that is where the real money is. Plus, every new donor is a potential lead for your corporate pipeline. If you’re not prioritizing individual donors, you’re leaving serious money—and opportunity—on the table.
Now is not the time to play it safe. While some nonprofits are considering cuts, the smart ones invest in their fundraising and partnership teams. Diversifying revenue streams today will future-proof your organization, making it stronger and more resilient for whatever comes next. Don’t be a fainting flower—this is your moment to build, not shrink.
Does this make sense to you? What else would you advise?
✌️Second, thanks to everyone who joined us last Thursday for our 2025 Social Impact & Partnership Trends webinar. We had a great crowd!
👉🏻 You can access the recording here.
👉🏻 You can access the slides here.
👉🏻 Don't forget my partnership trends post from last Wednesday.
☝️✌️Third, I'm again excited to join the Corporate Partnerships Conference (CPC25).
👉🏻 Here are four reasons why you should join me at CPC25 on Thursday, March 20th.
🌎 Corporate partnerships are everywhere now. They are no longer just local, regional, or national. THEY ARE INTERNATIONAL. And this is the only truly international conference on corporate partnerships. Now more than ever, we must toss away our parochialism and learn from corporate partnership pros worldwide.
✍️ I'll be delivering a new presentation. It's called How to Create a Lead-Generating Partnership Newsletter. This session will show you how to build newsletters that stand out in inboxes and drive results for your partnership team.
🏆 CPC is packed with actionable sessions! Check out this page and scroll down to "Sessions" and "Programme" (gotta love that British spelling!). You’ll be impressed!
🤑 This conference is wicked affordable. Just $100. Plus, when you enter SELFISH15 at checkout, you'll save an additional 15%. Wowza!!
That's the rock-bottom lowest price to attend. It will never be cheaper than it is right now!
✍️ Partnership Notes
1. In last week's trends webinar, I discussed the importance of "finding your people"—identifying companies that share your values and outlook. These companies are out there, even if your cause is niche or controversial.
For example, a morning-after pill manufacturer is partnering with Louisiana health clinics to donate its contraceptive in the House Speaker’s home state every time “Mike and his colleagues try to shut down access, spread misinformation or spew anti-contraception messaging.”
2. Silence isn't golden when you're waiting for a reply! Here's how to craft the perfect follow-up email after no response. #4 is key: Write an authentic subject line.
3. Mmmm...cause marketing waffles. I'll have mine with extra syrup and social good!
4. Double 😋. Next week, McDonald's will bring back its Shamrock Shake. For every shake sold, McDonald’s will donate 25 cents to RMHC. The goal is to raise $5 million!
🤑 Marketing Your Cause
1. This podcast is definitely worth a listen: How should you approach audience research? If you've sat in on my Audience-Centric Fundraising presentation, this isn't new to you. Making audience research a habit is key!
Below is a summary of the podcast generated by ChatGPT.
Effective audience research is essential for nonprofits looking to expand or retain their audiences. In a conversation on the Smart Communications Podcast, Farra Trompeter and Menaka Chandurkar from Big Duck discuss how research strengthens in-house communications, supports inclusivity, and helps organizations align with their audiences’ needs.
Effective research starts with clear objectives – Know what you want to learn and choose methods that align with your audience and resources.
Challenge assumptions and refine strategies – Research helps validate or adjust messaging to better connect with audiences.
Apply IDEA principles (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) – Prioritize underrepresented voices, remove participation barriers, and ensure ethical storytelling.
Use diverse research methods. When tailored to audience needs, – surveys, interviews, focus groups, and analytics can provide valuable insights.
Make research a habit – Building a culture of inclusive research strengthens communications and enhances organizational impact.
2. Something helpful from master copywriter Tom Ahern: A ranked list of the top ten fundraising writing best practices, ordered from foundational to most critical, with explanations and expert citations.
3. Eight brands give storytelling-worthy responses to L.A. wildfires and other natural disasters
😎 Cool Jobs in Cause
1. Partnership Implementation Manager, Habitat for Humanity International, Remote ($52k - $61k)
2. Coordinator, Corporate Partnership Development, Share Our Strength, Washington, D.C. ($55k - $58k)
🧠🍌 Brain Food
1. Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission’s new chairman, has ordered an investigation into the sponsorship practices of NPR and PBS member stations on Wednesday.
✌️Two big takeaways for nonprofit sponsorships: Sponsors and nonprofits might start playing it safer with their messaging to avoid scrutiny, which could also shake things up for other nonprofit media outlets.
2. To celebrate the 100th birthday of its founder, Paul Newman, Newman’s Own is showing other companies how to donate 100% of their profits to charities.
3. Speaking of trends for 2025, is this a new one? Fans turning game-day blunders into goodwill by donating to rival players' favorite charities.
