The FIA VIC Corporate Partnerships Special Interest Group (SIG) event was delivered yesterday bringing FIA members and Corporate Partnership specialists together for learning and networking, in a mask wearing and socially distanced way. This was kindly hosted by Lander & Rogers.
Kate Eddy was an excellent MC facilitating the conversation with 3 panellists who generously shared their case study, along with advice, tips, wins and failures:
Luke Toebelmann, Corporate Partnerships Manager, Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) | Strategic Partnership with ANZ: Financial Wellbeing for All
Tiffany Loftus-Hills, Senior Relationship Manager Corporate Partnerships, The Smith Family | Partnership with Officeworks: Back to School Appeal
Megan Johnson, Group Head Partners, Make A Wish Australia | Partnership with Sass & Bide
Jenni D’Orival (Gembridge), Kate Eddy (BSL), Luke Toebelmann (BSL, Tiffany Loftus-Hills (The Smith Family) and Megan Johnson (Make-A-Wish Australia)
Talking safely behind masks to a full room of Corporate Partnerships Specialists, they each shared a case study of a successful partnership, plus many tips, advice, learnings and failures throughout the panel discussion. Some key points include:
Ensure partnerships have a relevant and clear alignment
Keep an open dialogue with partners
Bring partners into your organisation to understand, feel and connect with the impact their partnership contributes to. This is not always possible with sensitive programs, so be creative. Megan gave a great example of involving corporates in a wish-granting workshop.
Constantly evaluate, renew and refresh partnerships
Embed the partnership into both cultures. Be sticky!
People are key to successful partnerships. Build relationships at all levels of an organisation.
In a charity, fundraising is everybody’s business. Share your partnership framework and the who, what and how.
Start the renewal process early. Be proactive and lead the the MOU and/or renewal process
Set clear expectations and targets
Replicate! Although partnerships are bespoke, there are learnings you can take from one to another
Well done to Luke Toebelmann and FIA committee for a successful SIG event. To sign up to the Corporate Partnerships SIG, email luke.toebelmann@bsl.org.au
For or other SIGs, visit here