Unit 4: Choose your initial impact focus and nonprofit partners

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Once you’ve identified the needs of your community, your available assets and resources, and employee and stakeholder interests and capacity, you will be ready to locate the organizations and focus areas where your company is best positioned to create impact.

At this point, you may find yourself debating whether you should leverage your assets to move the needle on some big, strategic issue, or use them to support the broad interests of your employees (i.e. matching). You are not alone. Many organizations face this question. There is no right or wrong answer.

It’s worth noting that many organizations choose a three-pronged approach:

• STRATEGIC: Focus on 1-3 core issue areas at a company-wide level (may overlap with DEI and/or sustainability goals).

• EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT: Allocating resources to support local employee engagement and/or company-wide matching for employee donations or volunteer hours (Tip: “Spot matching” can allow you to engage employees specifically around a timely need, i.e. Covid-19 response).

• THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: Activating participation in the Pledge 1% movement and learning community to inspire, educate, and empower your partners, customers, and ecosystem to leverage their assets for good.

Now it's time to build a list of organizations whose focus and impact intersect with your mission, employee interests, and your unique assets. 

You can research nonprofit organizations via sites like Candid or Charity Navigator. Or find volunteer opportunities through sites like Volunteer Match, Taproot, or Catchafire. If you are interested in product donation, take a look at TechSoup as a partner. 

Consider having an employee vote! Select up to five organizations and ask your team to vote on which one(s) they’d like to work with. If you’re small, don’t worry about being super strategic. Just pick an organization you're passionate about and get started.

Photo credit: Twilio

What to look for in a nonprofit partner

Remember, your partner nonprofits will likely evolve as you do. Start with one nonprofit or a handful and build from there. A good partner will be honest, provide feedback on what’s useful and what’s not, and help you be a more effective partner to other nonprofits and causes in the future.

When researching nonprofit partners, look for organizations that demonstrate the following:

• Well defined mission

Like your social impact mission, a clear nonprofit mission statement helps an organization maintain focus and work efficiently. 

• Transparency and Accountability

Assess the nonprofit's transparency and accountability practices, including financial transparency, governance structure, and reporting mechanisms. Look for organizations that adhere to best practices in nonprofit management and are transparent about their operations and impact.

• Educational Website
  

A robust online presence not only reflects an effectively managed organization also enhances a charity's credibility and transparency. Some organizations offer dynamic websites featuring impact storytelling that can be leveraged to inspire and educate both employees and customers about the cause supported by your company.

• Stakeholder Engagement

Consider the nonprofit's approach to stakeholder engagement and community involvement. Look for organizations that actively engage beneficiaries, volunteers, donors, and other stakeholders in their decision-making processes and program implementation. Check out the organization's social media presence and involvement on online platforms to see how the organization engages with its community.

• Integrity and Financial Stability

Examine the nonprofit's financial health and stability. Review their financial statements, budget allocations, and fundraising strategies to ensure that they have a sustainable funding model and can effectively manage resources. Consider the nonprofit's reputation and credibility within the community, sector, and among peer organizations. Look for organizations with a strong reputation for integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.

• Capacity and Expertise

Finally, consider the nonprofit's capacity, expertise, and capabilities to deliver programs and initiatives effectively. Look for organizations with experienced staff, strong leadership, and a track record of innovation and excellence in their field. If they don’t  have the structure in place to be successful, is your company going to fund their stability and growth?

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Next: Set your objectives and integrate with company goals