Discover how to design your nonprofit logo in 7 steps.

7 Steps to Design Your Nonprofit Logo

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At the end of the day, people expect logos from every business, organization, and nonprofit. Having a good logo is integral to your nonprofit’s branding, just like your organization’s name. A good logo is one that stands out, sticks in your supporters’ minds, and represents your mission.

In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of designing a nonprofit logo, including:

A strong logo design strengthens your organization’s branding and makes a strong first impression on prospective supporters. Along with other promotional materials, your logo should be incorporated into your nonprofit’s graphic design strategy. Your organization should strive to deliver a high-quality logo that represents your mission without having to say a thing.

How to Design a Nonprofit Logo

Step 1: Finalize your name.

Ideally, your nonprofit should already have a compelling name before you embark on your logo design journey. If you don’t have a finalized name or aren’t happy with your current one, focus on ironing out any kinks before you start designing.

This nonprofit logo is an example of using the name in the logo design.One reason to develop a strong name for your nonprofit before designing a logo is that names inform the visual elements of your logo. For example, you might be able to create a clever logo that uses text from your nonprofit’s name to create a symbol that represents your cause. In this logo from Handicap International, the name’s initials (HI) are worked into the hand illustration for an innovative graphic.

Your name also conveys information about your mission and the overall tone your organization carries. The name should cultivate an accurate and engaging first impression of your nonprofit to boost brand recognition. Remember to finalize any spelling and formatting preferences before you design your logo.

Step 2: Develop your core message.

Your organization’s name makes it identifiable to your supporters. Your core message, on the other hand, is influenced by your mission statement and slogan to identify what kind of impact your organization is making.

The values in your core message should guide every decision your nonprofit makes. Whether you’re choosing the right fundraising idea or developing your organization’s marketing strategy, come back to the principles outlined in your core message. Your logo serves as a visual, public-facing way to communicate these principles.

Finalizing your mission statement and creating a strong slogan gives you a solid jumping-off point for developing your logo. A slogan condenses the most important parts of what you do into a few key words. If you get stuck or off track while designing, refer back to your slogan to zero in on key concepts from your mission.

Step 3: Build branded elements.

This nonprofit logo is an example of how green signals an environmental cause.This nonprofit logo is an example of how bright colors convey a message.The best way to develop a strong visual brand for your nonprofit is to create a brand guide. A brand guide is a set of instructions on how to properly communicate your branding across various media channels. Brand guides are the best way to keep your branding consistent, especially if multiple team members create content for your organization.

Your brand guide should inform graphic design decisions across all platforms and channels. Include details like hexadecimal (hex) color codes and typeface names in the guide to encourage consistency down to the smallest details. With a thorough brand guide, any designer can reference it and replicate your nonprofit’s branding in their work.

Keep in mind that visual elements like color can signal things about your nonprofit. For example, this logo from Harlem Children’s Zone uses bold, bright colors. Colors like these communicate the nonprofit’s focus on helping children in the Harlem community with visual cues viewers pick up on at a glance.

Another example of the meaning of color in a logo is Greenpeace’s logo. Green is often associated with nature, environmental causes, and health. By using green in their logo, Greenpeace visually signals that their organization is concerned with creating a greener world.

Step 4: Choose a symbol.

Your organization’s name and core message can be translated into a visual symbol to quickly communicate your mission to supporters. The symbol you choose should represent what your organization does and be as unique as possible.

One way to develop a symbol for your logo is to narrow down your mission statement to just two or three main words. If you have a slogan, use it to inform what you create. Then, brainstorm other word associations and visual elements that communicate your mission.

This nonprofit logo is an example of using text in your logo.This nonprofit logo is an example of using powerful symbolism.Sometimes it’s difficult to think of symbols that truly represent your mission, especially if your cause is complex or abstract. If you feel stuck, try looking at some examples from other nonprofits with a similar mission to see what they used. Use these examples to inspire other ideas for your organization, but avoid outright copying.

We’ve all heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words.” The Girl Scouts of America logo is a great example of how symbols can convey a powerful visual message that might require lines and lines of text. This logo shows a lucky four-leaf clover and layers the silhouettes of three girls looking forward to the future, indicating the organization’s dedication to progress.

For some nonprofits, simpler is better. Organizations like The Water Trust choose to use only text in their logo. Even if you create a more text-heavy logo, there are still clever ways to include symbols that go the extra mile to convey your mission. In its logo, The Water Trust uses text, color, and clever symbols to convey that its mission involves helping people get water.

Step 5: Create the logo.

Use a nonprofit graphic design service like Kwala.

The best way to get a logo for your nonprofit is to use a graphic design service. While creating the logo yourself can save money, it’s best to invest in professional services when dealing with something as central to your brand as your logo. Professional designers have the skills and expertise to ensure your logo is visually and technically sound.

Kwala’s graphic design service will provide you with the perfect nonprofit logo.However, working with traditional graphic design agencies can be stressful for nonprofits. A subscription graphic design service like Kwala takes the stress out of the equation. With this service, your nonprofit will be paired with a graphic design team that specializes in creating graphic design materials for nonprofits.

If your organization chooses to work with Kwala, the process will look something like this:

  • Contact the Kwala team and meet your team of professional designers.
  • Describe what you’re looking for to the designers. Kwala’s flat rate pricing and unlimited designs allow you to get as many high-quality designs as you need each month.
  • Review your designs and submit as much feedback as you’d like with Kwala’s unlimited revisions.
  • Use your new designs to market your nonprofit across all marketing and advertising channels.

After receiving your design from Kwala’s team, your nonprofit can continue using the service for other graphic design materials. Because Kwala focuses on understanding the unique nonprofit landscape, its designs are tailored to address the challenges of nonprofit marketing.

Build the logo yourself.

If you’re unable to work with a professional designer, there are other ways to create a strong logo. To ensure your logo accurately reflects the best parts of your organization, follow these tips:

  • Avoid logo makers. Try not to use logo generators or makers. While some of these tools might yield high-quality logos, most of them look a bit cookie cutter. It’s hard to have a memorable logo if it looks like everyone else’s.
  • Create the logo from scratch. It’s best to create the logo from scratch on a reputable program like Adobe Illustrator. Your logo should be the centerpiece of your branding efforts, and it will be your nonprofit’s chief identifying factor for years to come. Make sure it’s created with care and attention to detail.
  • Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your network of supporters for assistance. One of your volunteers could be a professional designer willing to create a logo for free. Even if your supporters with expertise are unable to design a logo for you, you can use them as a knowledgeable resource for questions and concerns.

If you create your own logo, be sure it’s one of a kind. It’s easy to cut corners to save time and money, but your logo is something you should invest in.

Step 6: Review and revise your nonprofit logo.

Use this checklist before finalizing your nonprofit logo.Look over your finished logo for any problems, large or small. Ideally, you should get as many eyes on your logo as possible, including your employees and volunteers. The more people you have to look over your logo, the more likely you are to catch mistakes.

First, make sure the logo is what you want. If you used a designer, make sure they incorporated each element you requested and that it effectively represents your organization. One way to test this is to show the logo to people who aren’t familiar with your organization and ask what their impression of your nonprofit is.

Next, try to envision the logo across the various media channels it will be used on. Picture it in email signatures, on the corner of social media posts, and front and center on t-shirts. Ask yourself if it will look good and represent your mission in all of these scenarios.

Last, do a sweep for any basic mistakes. This could be spelling errors or the use of fonts and colors outside of what is detailed in the brand guide. It’s best to catch these mistakes at this stage rather than after you’ve printed logos with typos on 100 copies of a brochure.

Step 7: Develop variations.

Once you have a complete, finalized version of your logo, consider creating variations. Using your parent logo, tweak the design so the logo will work no matter when, where, how, or why it’s used. Your logo will be used on everything from social media infographics to thank-you letters, so it’s crucial that the style of the logo matches the occasion.

These logos are examples of creating different versions of your nonprofit logo.

For example, the American Heart Association’s full logo includes their symbol and name, and it’s usually used in more formal settings like on their website. However, the organization uses a simplified version for informal content like Instagram posts.

Nonprofit Logo Design Best Practices

Keep your design simple.

Knowing when to stop is one of the most challenging parts of graphic design. It’s easy to get carried away attempting to fit everything you love about your organization into your logo. But fitting everything in your mission statement into a tiny logo is next to impossible.

As you work on creating a clean and simple logo, keep these tips in mind:

  • Only use one trick. Not every element of your logo needs to be revolutionary. Choose one unique or special feature that will help your logo stand out from the crowd and limit everything else to the background.
  • Don’t be afraid to trim. You’ll likely need to cut some of the elements in your logo after the first draft is complete. Take a hard look at the logo and remove anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. Anything that can be qualified as simply “decorative” should be removed.
  • Consider choosing between text and graphics. Text and graphics both have their merits, but sometimes using both of them weighs down logos with unnecessary information. If your symbol seems like it’s repeating your nonprofit’s name or vice versa, consider removing the weaker element from the logo.

Remember that most viewers won’t take much time to study your logo. Social media viewers in particular will likely glance at the logo for one or two seconds before scrolling on. A simple logo is the best way to communicate your message to as many people as you can.

Make sure your logo can stand alone.

Your logo will end up featured across many different websites, pieces of merchandise, social media posts, and other media. You shouldn’t have to explain what your logo means for it to make sense to whoever views it. Make sure it can stand alone in any scenario.

As you design your logo, consider where it will show up. For example, if your logo will be posted on a social media platform like Instagram most frequently, tailor the logo to align with social media users’ preferences. In this case, the logo should be extremely simple so anyone quickly scrolling through their feed on a small smartphone screen can still register and make sense of your logo.

These logos show the difference between simple and busy nonprofit logos.

This logo from the World Wildlife Fund is a great example of a logo that can stand alone, particularly on social media. It doesn’t need a long name or written description to explain what it means. However, the United H.O.P.E. Foundation’s logo might be difficult for viewers to understand without reading five lines of text below the symbol.

Additional Resources

Designing a logo for your nonprofit is a serious undertaking that requires significant amounts of planning. Deep knowledge of your organization’s branding and mission statements is critical, especially for young nonprofit organizations. A strong logo design will help your organization stand out from the competition and show your supporters what you care about.

If you’re looking for more information to help guide your organization’s graphic design journey, check out these resources:

Learn about how you can create your best fundraising flyer with these 8 frequently asked questions.

Creating Your Best Fundraising Flyer: 8 FAQs

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As a nonprofit professional, you’re familiar with the important role fundraising plays in keeping your organization up and running. However, not every nonprofit recognizes the importance of marketing fundraisers with graphic design. Fundraising flyers are one of the easiest, most effective ways to promote your fundraiser.

Flyers are great nonprofit marketing tools to promote your fundraiser and maximize revenue. They also communicate important logistical details such as date and time in a succinct, readable format.

As you explore creating fundraising flyers, these topics will help you get started:

Flyers also clearly lay out how and why you are raising money. Adding context as to why your organization needs to raise money and the ways you will be collecting it could motivate more people to participate. Let’s get started by learning how subscription graphic design can help you create effective flyers.

What is subscription graphic design?

Kwala is the best option for nonprofits that don’t have time to create fundraising flyers.Choosing good graphic design software is just as important as choosing strong fundraising software, but making these important decisions can feel overwhelming. For many organizations, staff members simply don’t have the time to craft the perfect flyer in a design program. That’s where subscription-based graphic design services come into play.

Subscription graphic design services like Kwala offer a solution to nonprofit organizations that are pressed for time. This service connects your team with designers who understand the unique needs of nonprofits. Their deep understanding of the nonprofit landscape lends itself to custom graphic design products that address the challenges associated with the nonprofit sector.

With Kwala, you can create promotional materials and gear such as:

  • Flyers
  • T-shirt graphics
  • Yard signs
  • Stickers
  • Table runners
  • Postcards

Each of these items is fully customizable, and designers are committed to aligning designs with your mission and branding. The service offers unlimited requests and revisions to ensure you receive exactly what you want.

Most-Asked Questions About Fundraising Flyers

Why create fundraising flyers?

While many people might assume flyers are a thing of the past, this is far from reality. There are many reasons why fundraising flyers should be included in your marketing strategy, such as:

  • Flyers are a low-cost marketing tool.
  • They are a high-impact way to market.
  • They are easy to create.
  • Updating flyers in the event of changes is simple.

Flyers are a versatile and functional type of graphic design. They inform your supporters about important upcoming events and are easy to distribute, whether sent via email, posted in public areas, or distributed to your supporters.

What is the best way to make fundraising flyers?

Simply put, the best way to create flyers varies for each organization. Depending on factors like team size, time availability, and budget, there is an approach to making flyers that works best for you. For example, a team with busy nonprofit professionals who still want quality graphic design materials can find success with a service like Kwala.

What graphic design tools should I use?

There are many different kinds of graphic design tools for nonprofits, but some are better and more affordable than others. When you’re looking for graphic design tools, keep in mind that flyers are simple and only require basic tools. You probably won’t need software with the longest list of capabilities but one that meets your unique

CanvaCanva has dozens of templates for fundraising flyers.

Canva is a graphic design program that is available online, so you won’t need to download any software. This platform has pre-made templates for just about any graphic design material you’ll need to create, whether that’s a social media post or a fundraising flyer. Canva’s software allows you to customize its templates so you can adjust fonts, colors, and images to match your branding.

As a nonprofit organization, you’re probably eligible for a free Canva Pro membership. You’ll have access to all of the templates, graphics, and project management tools the platform has to offer. You can also add other team members to the account for a collaborative graphic design process.

PexelsWith Pexels, you can find royalty-free images for your fundraising flyer.

Pexels is a service that features royalty-free media. While it is primarily a source for stock photos, the website also has royalty-free videos available. With images from Pexels, you can edit them as much as you like so that they match your branding and the theme of your fundraiser.

High-quality photos make your fundraising flyers shine. Pexels is a convenient source for images, especially if you don’t have the time or budget to take them yourself.

BeFunkyBeFunky is a photo editor with most of the capabilities you’ll need.

BeFunky has everything you need in a photo editor, including the ability to crop, recolor, and resize your photos. This tool is known for its one-click collage generator which creates cohesive collages from the photos you upload.

If you’re planning to integrate photos into your flyer designs, it’s best to work with an editing tool like BeFunky. While other design tools often have built-in photo editing tools, they tend to have limited capabilities. BeFunky, on the other hand, houses every common editing tool on one easy-to-use platform.

Should I try using templates?

Templates can work for any nonprofit, regardless of their design experience, because they streamline the entire process. For nonprofits with small teams, a limited budget, and a packed schedule, drag-and-drop templates are the best option. Templates give your organization the ability to make attractive templates without needing to spend time and money you don’t have on creating them.

While templates are a quick and affordable way to create flyers, they won’t be tailored to your organization and its branding. If you choose a popular free template, chances are other organizations have used the exact same one. Choosing templates you can customize sets your organization apart without demanding too much time from your busy schedule.

If you want unique templates but don’t have the time to create new flyers every time you have a fundraiser or event, consider creating your own templates. Set aside a chunk of time to develop a flyer template that’s consistent with your branding, complete with fields for important details like the fundraiser name, date, and time. Then, the next time you launch a fundraiser, all you’ll need to do is update the fields in the template!

Use this chart to find out if your organization should use a fundraising flyer template.

What should I include in my fundraising flyer?

The main purpose of a fundraising flyer is to promote an event to your supporters. To ensure supporters have all the necessary information to attend, you’ll need to add some specific details to your flyers.

As you create your flyer, be sure to include the following information:

  • Fundraiser name
  • Location
  • Date and time
  • Organization name
  • Fundraiser purpose or name of the cause
  • How supporters can participate
  • Entry fee or donation amount

Use this checklist to make your best fundraising flyer.

Once you start building out flyers for various fundraisers, there may be additional information you need to include. For example, if your nonprofit hosts a picnic fundraiser, you should add a line noting that participants will need to bring their own blankets or chairs.

Flyers should contain the most important information your supporters need to participate in your fundraiser. Your goal should be to create a comprehensive source that covers all of your fundraiser’s bases. To maximize the marketing potential of your flyer and increase brand recognition, include your nonprofit’s logo on the page.

While you should strive to make a flyer that contains all relevant information, avoid bogging it down with too much text. Adding paragraphs of detailed information will make the flyer difficult to skim through, especially on social media. Ensure your supporters will actually read your flyers by sticking to short, bullet-point style lines of text rather than blocks of it.

What design strategies work in a fundraising flyer?

If you feel lost when it comes to graphic design, learning about basic graphic design strategies can help steer you in the right direction. These common strategies can help you leverage the full power of nonprofit graphic design in your communications. Generally, graphic design tips make for a clearer, more readable final product.

Create a plan.

Before you even open your graphic design software, plan out the flyer. Many designers prefer to use pen and paper to jot down or sketch their ideas quickly. Having a solid plan before you start designing prevents you from staring at a blank document until you feel inspired.

Start with a list of the information you’ll need to include in your flyer. Then, you can allow enough space for important fundraiser details. At this stage, it might help to note any ideas you have regarding images or graphics.

Next, begin to sketch a rough layout of your fundraising flyer. If drawing isn’t your strong suit, don’t panic — this step is just a tool for you to organize the basic elements of your flyer before you begin designing it. Once you feel satisfied with your sketch, start drafting the flyer in your graphic design software.

Establish a visual hierarchy.

Simply put, this strategy uses visual elements to signal what is most important about your design. For example, the name of the fundraiser should be the largest, followed by date and time, with less notable details being the smallest. Visual hierarchy directs the viewer’s eye to the most important piece of information first, subtly moving their gaze across the flyer.

It also ensures that viewers who give your flyer a cursory glance see the most important information. If they take anything away from the flyer, it will be whatever you’ve signaled is most important in your design.

There are many different ways to establish a visual hierarchy — namely through creating size differences, using contrasting colors, and organizing typography. Keep in mind that images and graphics catch the eye before any text will, so make these elements count!

Choose a color palette.

Design a color scheme that is effective, whether it is for a single flyer or your entire brand. Effective color pairings should contrast against each other and convey something about your brand. For example, green is associated with nature which makes it perfect for environmental organizations.

If you don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing a color scheme, try a color picker website to generate some combinations that will get you started.

What are some graphic design mistakes should I avoid?

Novice designers are bound to make some missteps at the beginning of their design journey. Unfortunately, mistakes aren’t always harmless, and they can sometimes lead to miscommunications between you and your supporters. Learning about common graphic design mistakes can keep you from making them yourself.

When creating your flyer, try to avoid:

  • Using too many words: Keep your flyers as visual as possible. This means using photos, illustrations, and other graphics in place of large blocks of text. Limit text usage to bullet points or one-line phrases.
  • Using several different fonts: Stick to one or two fonts per design. It’s easy to get excited and throw in three or four fonts that you love, but mismatched fonts are distracting for viewers. To build your branding, consider choosing a default font to use across all graphic design materials.
  • Filling the entire page: Avoid filling every inch of the flyer with text, graphics, or images. Intentionally incorporate negative space, the blank space between graphic elements, into your design. Negative space directs viewers’ focus to the important parts of the flyer.

Some graphic design errors are tell-tale signs of an amateur designer. Keeping these mistakes in mind prevents you from creating flyers that aren’t useful for communicating information to your audience.

These graphic design tips help you make your best fundraising flyer.

How can I save money on fundraising flyers?

While flyers are a low-cost option relative to other promotional materials, creating them on a tight budget can be difficult. One way to make a tight budget go further is to capitalize on matching gift programs and other corporate philanthropy initiatives. However, there are a few ways to cut down costs if you need a quicker solution.

Before you commit to purchasing graphic design software or registering for a paid membership, check for special deals extended to nonprofits. Many graphic design platforms offer free or reduced costs for their product as long as your organization meets their criteria. As you learn to navigate the software, browse the internet for free tutorials or courses so you can design more efficiently.

Printing costs can be high depending on the style of your flyers and how many copies you need. However, the world of social media marketing is growing faster than ever. If needed, your flyers can live totally online so you can cut out printing costs entirely.

Additional Resources

Flyers are an integral part of promoting fundraisers through nonprofit graphic design. With the dozens of graphic design tools available with just a few clicks, there is a way for every nonprofit to create stunning fundraising flyers. If graphic design is something you’re still mystified by, turning to a professional graphic design service is a great alternative to creating them yourself.

  • 5 Steps to Create a Great Graphic Design Strategy. If you’ve researched graphic design strategy, chances are you got lost in jargon and technical language. These five steps clearly outline how you can improve your organization’s graphic design strategy.
  • 5 Nonprofit Graphic Design FAQs to Help You Stand Out. Are you just dipping your toe into the world of nonprofit graphic design? Take a look at some of the common questions beginners ask to understand the basics, best practices, and how to find a graphic designer.
  • 15 Best Nonprofit Graphic Design Examples. Feeling uninspired in your graphic design efforts? Check out these 15 top nonprofit graphic design examples to get some ideas for your next infographic or brochure.
How to identify corporate partnerships with 360MatchPro

How to Identify Corporate Partnerships [With 360MatchPro]

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In today’s corporate world, employees and consumers are becoming increasingly focused on supporting socially responsible businesses. Consequently, more and more companies are developing philanthropic programming. And nonprofits looking to raise much-needed funds for their causes are turning to corporate giving as a way to build mutually beneficial business relationships!

As a nonprofit fundraiser yourself, perhaps you’ve recently developed a strategy in order to leverage matching gift opportunities (one of the most prominent forms of corporate philanthropy) for your mission. Maybe you’ve even invested in a matching gift solution to automate the process, better engage with your donors, and collect more individual and corporate funding for your cause.

Now begs the question: what other types of corporate philanthropy are on the table⁠, and how can you begin leveraging these initiatives for your organization?

For many nonprofits, corporate partnerships are the answer you’re looking for⁠—and 360MatchPro by Double the Donation makes the process as easy as can be.

Check out our overview of 360MatchPro's matching gift automation functionality

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to identify corporate partnerships for nonprofits (and how your team can best pursue the opportunities) by exploring the following topics:

Like matching gifts, corporate partnerships offer a win-win situation for the nonprofits and businesses that partake. However, many organizations have no idea where to begin when it comes to scouring for partnership opportunities, near and far.

Here, we’ll examine the best tips, tricks, and tools available for doing so (and what you can do with the tools you may already have). Let’s dive in!

The Basics of Corporate Partnerships for Nonprofits

Corporate partnerships are a particular form of support nonprofits receive from corporations, often for a specific purpose such as an event or other project.

Defining corporate partnerships

Benefits include not only the increased funding provided by corporate partners but also significantly elevated exposure and awareness brought to your organization through strategic co-marketing efforts.

Corporate partnerships can come in many forms as well, including:

  • Financial ⁠— This is your most typical type of corporate partnership agreement and takes place when a company provides financial support to a nonprofit cause.
  • In-kind ⁠— In-kind sponsorships occur when a company donates non-monetary goods and services to an organization. This may include free or reduced-cost event space rentals, catering services, or even business gift certificates and products for prizes.
  • Media ⁠— Finally, media sponsorships are a unique type of corporate partnership where a company partners with a nonprofit organization in order to take on the cost of promoting the event⁠—such as with radio advertisements, TV commercials, or printed materials.

Then, regardless of the type of agreement offered, the nonprofit typically agrees to recognize the company through event or project marketing content (i.e., signage, merchandise, online advertising, and more).

The Relationship Between Matching Gifts and Corporate Partnerships

Matching gifts and corporate partnerships go hand in hand as two particularly powerful forms of corporate giving. Here’s what you need to know:

Matching Gifts

Matching gifts are one of the most popular examples of corporate philanthropy among companies and their employees and nonprofits and their donors. Essentially what occurs with this type of giving program is that businesses agree to provide funding to qualifying nonprofits in order to match charitable donations their employees make to the causes. Thus, individual donors function as arguably the most essential players in the partnership. Companies that offer matching gift programs will typically provide donation matches to a wide range of nonprofit causes that their employees support.

Corporate Partnerships

On the other hand, corporate partnerships take place when companies provide funding to nonprofit causes based on particular agreements made between the company and the nonprofit. Though donors and employees can certainly vie for these types of initiatives to occur, any one individual does not typically play a particularly hands-on role in corporate partnerships being developed. Businesses that participate offer corporate partnerships typically contribute larger amounts of funding to a smaller number of organizations as compared to employee matching gift programs.

Comparing corporate partnerships with matching gifts

However, the two concepts do see significant overlap as well. Specifically, both matching gifts and corporate partnerships function as strategic relationships between nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses, and each philanthropic opportunities offer unique and substantial benefits to both parties involved.

How to Identify Corporate Partnerships Using 360MatchPro | 4 Methods

With more than 32.5 million businesses operating in the United States alone, that’s a lot of potential sponsorships for nonprofit organizations. But how can they know where to begin their efforts⁠—and target their outreach toward companies that are the most likely to respond positively to partnership inquiries?

Here are a few things fundraising professionals can do as they learn how to identify corporate partnerships and other opportunities using Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro functionality:

1. Locate top matching gift companies.

Companies that offer matching gift programs are likely to be some of the best prospective corporate sponsors. After all, they already show an interest in philanthropy and supporting nonprofit causes, which can provide you with an existing “in” to the conversation.

If your organization has access to a 360MatchPro account, locating these companies is made even easier. Double the Donation’s automated matching gift platform offers a detailed dashboard that provides invaluable information for nonprofits about their donors. The page includes daily tracking of donations flowing into the system, the amount of identified matching gift dollars, real-time donor engagement statistics, and a list of the “top 10 companies” being looked up in their search tool.

Here's how to identify corporate sponsorships with 360MatchPro dashboard

Specifically, the top companies tool (which can also expand to show all companies contributing donation matches) provides an opportunity for nonprofits to deepen these relationships. With this functionality, users can quickly locate additional context on some of the most valuable companies to approach for corporate partnership opportunities and more.

When a user views this data, they can easily navigate to the company’s website and retrieve contact information to get in touch. From there, they can utilize the company’s status as a top matching gift company as a rapport-building tool to get their foot in the door.

For example, a nonprofit may communicate something like this to a business with which they’re interested in partnership:

“Our organization has received 620 donations and $28,000 match identified dollars from your company in the past year. We see that you are dedicated to charitable giving, and it seems that we have a lot in common already! Are you interested in partnering with our team as a corporate sponsor for our upcoming fundraising event?”

This can also set the stage for identifying additional corporate partnerships such as in-kind donations (e.g., a food bank or homeless shelter working with a business to set up a donation box at the company’s office or store), corporate volunteer opportunities (as team-building activities), and many more.

2. Utilize custom redirects for ineligible donors.

Unfortunately, not all companies offer matching gift programs⁠—but that doesn’t mean you should remove them from your list of potential corporate partnerships.

In fact, existing donors who work for companies that do not match employee donations can be some of your greatest allies in the process! And Double the Donation makes it as easy as possible to empower these individuals with the tools they need to pitch charitable giving opportunities to their employers with custom redirects and powerful suggested next steps.

Let’s take a look at this idea in action! Here’s an example of a custom redirect from the Denver Rescue Mission:

Here's how one organization identifies corporate sponsorships with a custom redirect.

This organization sends follow-up emails after its donors have been identified as likely ineligible for a matching gift. The message includes a link to a dedicated web page that provides information on other ways the donors can make an impact without existing matching gift programs in place. And that’s something your team can do, too!

We recommend including a number of ways that the receiving donors can get further involved with your nonprofit⁠—even after determining that their gift is not able to be matched by their employer. For example, consider encouraging supporters to take the following next steps:

Make a recommendation for matching gifts.

For companies that don’t have existing matching gift programs, encourage donors to reach out and float the idea upwards. An employee may get in touch with their employer’s HR department to discuss the possibility of launching a matching gift program.

To further simplify the process for your donors, you might even provide a customizable template (such as the one included in this How to Advocate for a Matching Gift Program guide) they can use to pitch matching gifts and highlight the business value available to the company.

And who knows? They might end up developing a matching gift initiative after all!

Look into additional workplace giving opportunities.

Let’s say a donor’s employer doesn’t offer a matching gift program. That’s not to say they don’t have any workplace giving initiatives in place! Encourage donors who work for non-matching gift companies to look into additional corporate giving opportunities they may be eligible to participate in.

Thousands of companies offer volunteer grants, while others may provide annual grant stipends, paid volunteer time off, etc. The possibilities are endless, and all can have a positive impact on your organization.

Multiply their impact in other ways.

Perhaps the donor’s employer is not interested in launching any workplace giving opportunities just yet. That doesn’t mean the donor themselves is not able to amplify their impact on your cause! At this point, be sure to provide recommendations for other ways an individual can get further involved.

For example, if an individual has contributed a one-time donation, see if they’re interested in getting involved in a recurring monthly giving program! Alternatively, you can highlight other ways they can bring value to your cause, such as by volunteering with your organization or even taking on a peer-to-peer fundraising role.

You already know that your donors are invested in your organization and its cause. Having a strategy in place for getting match-eligible donors involved in their employers’ matching gift programs is great. But you don’t want to neglect those who have been identified as match-ineligible, either.

Guiding said donors toward additional opportunities for support is a must. And, if you have 360MatchPro, you don’t have to worry about following up with individual supporters, thanks to your customizable and automated email streams that lead the way.

3. Reach out to companies without matching gift programs.

Sure, your donors can be some of your strongest advocates for corporate partnership opportunities. But you can also reach out to potential sponsors yourself to propose business partnerships and build relationships.

One of the best ways to do so starts with the companies your donors work for that have been determined not to offer matching gift programs. After all, they’re currently missing out on a substantial opportunity for increased business success. Partnering with your organization can empower them to leverage philanthropy to make the most of it.

Consider reaching out to some of the top companies identified through 360MatchPro’s dashboard. From there, you can start with a simple template like this:

“Hi! We see that more than 35 dedicated donors to our nonprofit are employed by your company. Unfortunately, however, it looks like you don’t offer a matching gift program. Because we already have so much in common with us, we were hoping you might be interested in developing a mutually beneficial corporate partnership.”

For the best results, be sure to highlight whatever value proposition you can provide your corporate sponsors in terms of your upcoming event or project. Not only will these companies be inclined to build a relationship based on the overlap between your two teams, but they’ll also be able to examine the tangible benefits made available by the partnership.

4. Pursue custom matching gift opportunities.

Similar to how you could seek a corporate sponsorship by an employer prevalent in your donor network, you might also decide to pursue a “one-off” or custom matching gift program with the company.

Not familiar with that idea? It’s essentially a matching gift initiative that involves a specific agreement between your organization and a dedicated corporate partner. While the partner may not match donations to other nonprofits their employees support, they do commit to doubling donations made by team members to your cause. Since it involves a significantly lower investment of the company’s time, effort, and resources, it may be a more effective ask than if you were to recommend the business launch a new, fully-fledged matching gift program.

Depending on how the conversation goes, you can even share with them our detailed guide on How to Start a Matching Gift Program to help them move through the process. Should they decide to take on the task, 360MatchPro also offers unique functionality for nonprofits managing their side of such programs within the matching gift platform. Not to mention, you can offer groundbreaking auto-submission functionality through Double the Donation, which streamlines the request process for the company’s employees and minimizes the administrative lift for the company itself!

*As a note, this feature is designed specifically for fundraisers looking to manage custom matching gift initiatives—360MatchPro does not work directly with corporations. If you’re a company interested in creating a matching gift program, contact us, and we’ll share information about our corporate vendor partners.

Increasing revenue through corporate philanthropy is an excellent objective for nonprofits of all shapes, sizes, and missions. And learning how to identify corporate partnerships is one of the best steps you can take to get there!

For the greatest results, be sure your team is equipped with the tools you need for ongoing, substantial success. For matching gifts and corporate partnership opportunities, Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro offers the best-in-class technology to drive matching gifts to completion, uncover potential sponsorships, and more.

Interested in learning more about corporate fundraising? Check out these other educational posts from Double the Donation:

  • Why Workplace Giving Matters for Nonprofits + Companies. Workplace giving programs such as matching gifts and volunteer grants can make a substantial impact on the nonprofits and companies that participate. Learn more about the benefits of workplace giving and how you can utilize the initiatives for your cause.
  • Corporate Giving Programs: The Ultimate Fundraising Guide. Corporate giving programs are not limited to matching gifts and corporate partnerships! Find out everything there is to know about some of the most popular and effective philanthropy programs offered by companies across the globe with this detailed guide.
  • Matching Gift Databases: Our Comprehensive Guide for 2022. Matching gift software can make a huge difference for matching gift fundraising as well as other forms of corporate giving. Dive into this resource that highlights what to look for in a matching gift database and how it can help your team raise more.

Learn more about identifying corporate sponsorships and increasing matching gifts with Double the Donation.

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