*sighs exasperatedly*

Have you been in this boat before?

You pulled the pitch together. You sent it to dozens of prospects. And then… nothing. Not a no. Not even an out-of-office. Just the kind of silence that would make a ghost jealous.

If that’s you, take a breath. It’s frustrating, but it’s usually fixable. Here are the three things I think are most likely going awry.

1. Wrong time

When are you approaching these prospects?

One thing we’ve learnt, and teach at BePartnerReady.com®, is that there IS an optimum time to pitch. It’s not when you feel ready, and it’s not when the Board tells you to. It’s when corporates are discussing and setting their budgets.

• Companies on a July to June financial year: the sweet spot is February to March.
• Companies on a calendar financial year: it’s August to September.

The trick is to work out when their financial year starts, then work back about four months.

2. Wrong pitch

What exactly are you sending these prospects?

Is it a slide d...

I’m just back from a holiday, and I’ve been in a pretty reflective mood. Over the past 7 years I’ve had countless conversations with non-profits about corporate partnerships, and before that I was inside one. What gets me is that the challenges we seem to face haven’t really changed.

I took a look at our Readiness Q&A (a free tool that helps you assess your readiness for corporate partnerships), which over 700 changemakers across Australia and New Zealand have now completed, and the same three sticking points come up again and again…

1. “I don’t know where to even begin”

“I’ve been told to get partners but I have no roadmap, no structure, no starting point.”

About a third of the charities and social enterprises who’ve done our Readiness Q&A say a lack of strategy or a clear starting point is what’s holding them back. They need focus and direction.

Before you reach out to any corporate you need to get clear on why you even want corporate partners and how they could really drive you...

Many social enterprises spend so much time focused on funding challenges that they overlook something important: corporates increasingly need what you offer.

There was a time when ‘doing good’ sat in the nice-to-have basket. Today, it’s very different. Companies are under growing pressure from customers, employees and stakeholders to demonstrate social impact and contribute meaningfully to society.

But corporates aren’t simply looking to write cheques anymore. They’re looking for strategic partners. And that’s where social enterprises have a huge advantage.

Unlike many traditional charities, social enterprises already think commercially. You’re used to balancing purpose with revenue, solving problems creatively, adapting quickly and finding innovative ways to deliver impact.

That makes you a dream partner.

A great corporate partnership is never just about funding. It’s about creating value for both sides. Here are seven reasons corporates can become game-changing partners for soci...

Before I headed below deck so Georgia could take the helm and steer the BePartnerReady.com® ship, I distilled my best tips for navigating the often-treacherous corporate seas into three blogs. This is the third and final instalment.

Across Parts 1 and 2, there are 26 practical steps designed to help you sail smoothly and chart a course towards high-value partnerships in 2026 and beyond. In this final part, we turn our attention to reaching land - and landing the partner.

Landing on New Shores (Partnership Success)

Landing a corporate partner is a milestone worth celebrating… but it’s not the finish line. It’s the starting point.

This is where many organisations drop the ball. The deal is signed, everyone exhales, and then… momentum fades. Expectations drift. Value quietly erodes.

The rubber truly hits the road once the ink dries - delivering on what you promised, deepening the relationship, and setting yourself up not just for renewal, but for growth.

Tip 21. Get it in writing
...

I’m sharing my best tips on navigating the often-treacherous corporate seas, distilled into 26 practical steps to help you sail smoothly and reach shore with high-value partners in 2026. Navigating the Corporate Seas Part 1 was all about preparing your organisation for the journey, covering tips 1-10. Now it’s time to embed your corporate partnerships strategy and start navigating the open seas, with tips 11-20:

Setting Sail (Embed the Corporate Partnerships Strategy)

11. Assemble Your Crew: Don’t go it alone. Surround yourself with a supportive team who can offer fresh perspectives, challenge your thinking, and contribute valuable input.

12. Commit to Weekly Progress: Dedicate consistent time each week to move your strategy forward. Around a day per week over nine months (about 20 hours a month) is ideal.

13. Anchor Your Value: Develop a compelling proposition highlighting your organisation’s unique strengths and value. Value your brand and value your marketing/fundraising assets....

As my final blog for BePartnerReady.com®, I thought I’d go out with something a little juicy: a 3-part series.

I’m sharing my best tips on navigating the often-treacherous corporate seas, distilled into 26 practical steps to help you sail smoothly and reach shore with high-value partners in 2026.

Building the boat (preparation)

With the cost-of-living crisis continuing, global conflict unfolding, and consumers tightening their belts, you might be wondering… are corporates still partnering?

Of course they are. But expectations have shifted. Corporates are looking for mutual benefit. They want a clear return on investment. So simply asking for money won’t cut it in 2026. This is where a true corporate partnership - one that drives both partners’ mission and objectives - is the smart move.

Being prepared is the first step:

1. Assess Your Readiness
   Ensure your organisation is truly prepared for corporate partnerships. Key factors to consider include:
   i) a well-educated and supporti
...

As I hand the baton of BePartnerReady.com® to Donor Republic, I’ve been in a reflective mood. People have been asking me: after 30 years of brokering partnerships between corporates and causes, what’s the biggest lesson you take with you?

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Don’t jump into bed with just anyone. Alignment is everything.
2. Heart and mind both matter. Values, goals and energy must match. If they don’t, even promising partnerships unravel - usually messily.
3. Trust is earned, not assumed. Respect, transparency and hard work are non-negotiable.
4. Mutual value is essential. If it’s one-sided, it won’t last.
5. Think long-term. The real magic happens when partnerships grow and evolve over years.

I’ve seen extraordinary alliances that channelled millions into causes. And I’ve seen partnerships that looked perfect on paper quietly fall apart because the alignment wasn’t real.

These lessons aren’t just about business. They’re about life, too.

Learning the Hard Way

I learned some of t...

MEDIA RELEASE

Donor Republic has acquired BePartnerReady.com®, an online business that upskills non-profits and social enterprises to build lucrative corporate partnerships.

Founded by partnership matchmaker Hailey Cavill-Jaspers and Georgia McIntosh in 2020, BePartnerReady.com® has built a strong reputation for practical, no-nonsense and robust training. The program has led to numerous partnerships being formed and has seen millions of dollars in cash, exposure and expertise flow into the non-profit sector. In five years, BePartnerReady.com® has upskilled over 350 changemakers across 200 organisations.

The acquisition brings together Donor Republic’s deep expertise in fundraising strategy with BePartnerReady.com®’s proven frameworks for corporate partnerships, creating a more integrated offering for charities seeking sustainable and diversified income.

“Corporate partnerships are often misunderstood or undercooked in the not-for-profit sector -and too often treated as donations in...

When a global powersports company teams up with an Australian bullying-prevention charity, you might not expect sparks to fly - but that’s exactly what happened when BRP Ltd (makers of Can-Am, Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo and more) partnered with Bully Zero.

BRP has a bold global ambition to stamp out bullying, and in 2024 they chose Bully Zero as their Australian partner. It’s a partnership built on shared values and a genuine commitment to end bullying in all its forms.

A bold global commitment

Since launching the Ride Out Intimidation program, BRP has committed more than CAD $10 million globally to tackle bullying head-on.

Their approach is refreshingly practical: bring people together, support those most at risk, and use their global reach to create conversations that actually lead to change. Across the world, their partners are working toward a simple but powerful goal - a world where everyone feels free and safe.

At the heart of this commitment is BRP’s Anti-Bullying Resource Hub - a ...

’Tis the season for puddings, pavs and planning for 2026 - so it feels like the perfect moment to talk about proof. Because when it comes to selecting a corporate partnerships expert, the proof really is in the pudding.

Not the glossy slides.
Not the charm.
Not the pumped-up cv.

Just like a Christmas pudding, the only thing that matters is what’s inside - the recipe, the core ingredients, the method, and the results.

And that’s how you tell the real experts from the pretenders. So, if you’re thinking about getting some guidance on corporate partnerships in 2026, listen up!

When risk gives the Board the heebie-jeebies

Corporate partnerships carry real risk: money, reputations, relationships, and staff time. Boards are right to ask questions. So, before you hand over budget, precious hours and your reputation to an ‘expert’, make sure your consultant can answer the simplest, most revealing question of all:

“What partnerships has your process actually delivered?”

If the answer is...