Weathering the Storm: Navigating and adapting for uncertain times

Uncategorized Dec 02, 2024

As Australians brace for a summer of extreme weather, with warnings of soaring temperatures and unpredictable conditions[1], nonprofits are navigating their own storm of challenges. Much like the climate’s volatility, the non-profit sector is facing - what many of our students, clients and fundraising consultants suggest- one of the toughest fundraising landscapes in over a decade.

A Challenging Climate for Changemakers

Recent reports (I have found five from 2023 and 2024, see bottom of blog) indicate a troubling trend: donations are declining, less Australians are giving, and non-profits are struggling to maintain financial stability. As we cap off another year, giving appears to be at an all-time low, driven by inflation and economic uncertainty. This mirrors global trends, where non-profits are grappling with reduced government funding and cautious donors.

Adding to the pressure, non-profits are also seeing a greater demand on their services as well as a staffing crisis....

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SOME Roads Lead to Corporate Partnerships

Uncategorized Nov 19, 2024

You’ve heard the saying all roads lead to Rome, right? Well, if Rome is the glorious city of corporate partnership success - complete with thriving, well-funded programs, transformative collaborations, and the occasional celebratory gelato - then there are indeed many ways to get there. But, spoiler alert: some routes are a tad more effective & enjoyable than others.

Let’s map it out.

The Highway: The BePartnerReady.com® Full Program (May 2025 Intake)

This is your smooth, well-signposted freeway to Rome. It’s got an easy-to-follow roadmap in 7 easy steps, rest & refreshment stops (monthly calls with all students), tour guides (Georgia, me and Alumnites), and fellow travellers cheering you on. You’ll not only learn but embed a corporate partnership strategy month by month and by the time you reach Rome you’ll be pitching to – and winning – your dream corporate partners. 

Sure, it requires some planning and commitment, but...

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Why All Non-Profits Should Know the Value of Their Brand

Uncategorized Sep 24, 2024

At last week’s Fundraising Nest’s "Nest Fest Down Under," I was asked, “What advice would you give to your younger self?” My answer: Be your authentic self and be discerning about whose advice you listen to. Reflecting on this led me to write this blog, but I hesitated to publish. I was then inspired by Kamala Harris’ bold stand for the truth and calling out misinformation, so here it is. I’d love your thoughts.

Some time ago, I was forwarded a document, written by a purported corporate partnerships expert. It dismissed the importance of non-profits valuing their brand, claiming, “Getting your brand valued is a waste of money,” and “It won’t get you more partnerships.”

As someone who, in collaboration with experts, has developed the only rigorous process for valuing a non-profit’s brand, in Australia and New Zealand, I felt this criticism was pointed at me and my tool.

I’m all for being challenged and...

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THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH...PREPARATION

Uncategorized Aug 12, 2024

Sorry Lao Tzu, I know the journey begins with a single step but preparation is vital.

It’s been a tumultuous year for me, so a few weeks ago, I decided to escape Melbourne’s bitter winter. I booked a holiday to Bali.

My dear friend Susan, was there for work. We always have a good laugh, and a laugh was exactly what I needed. When she asked me what I wanted from my holiday, I said, "I want to come back with an aching jaw from laughing so much." So, I had a clear intention!

Ah, Bali. The brochures promise an island paradise: cocktails, white beaches, sun, massages. It's like the allure of an amazing corporate partner when you first set out on the adventure. Perhaps Bali doesn’t sound that adventurous to you, but it was my first time overseas in eight years and my first solo trip in a long while.

Three weeks ago, I boarded a 6am flight on a cold Melbourne morning. The flight was smooth - I slept all the way. When I landed, I was immediately struck by the unfamiliar....

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WINTER: A TIME TO REFLECT

Uncategorized Jun 04, 2024

Winter. It’s my time to light the fire, cook a hearty curry, and savour a glass of Pinot Noir. And head to bed early! For centuries, Winter has been a natural season for introspection. As nature rests and animals hibernate, humans often cocoon and reflect on life and work.

If you’re reflecting on your corporate partnerships’ strategy, now is an ideal time for a review. Whether you’re just starting out, actively pursuing corporate prospects or managing a handful of existing partnerships, setting a Corporate Partnerships Intention is a great way to re-align your corporate partnerships strategy with your Mission and Vision.

There’re 3 good reasons to set a Corporate Partnerships Intention:

1) Focus

It gets you focused on a clear outcome so you can concentrate all your energy on that and avoid distractions and so-called ‘opportunities’ that throw you off course. Changemakers can’t waste a drop of precious time. There’s a world of...

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REBEL FOR A CAUSE

Uncategorized May 22, 2024

A brilliant example of a corporate that’s bringing its full resources to bear for a cause, is that of rebel. Partnering with Lifeline since 2021, they’ve made a significant financial commitment, initiated campaigns, and leveraged their digital channels, retail outlets, suppliers, and sporting ambassadors to champion mental health and raise funds.

rebel – Australia’s leading sports retailer – believes in the transformative power of sport. To rebel, it’s more than just fitness - it’s about holistic well-being. Sport can build confidence, swim off a bad day and slam dunk stress. They express this belief in three simple words: ‘Sport is Calling’.

 

As a torchbearer for well-being, it made sense to partner with a leader in mental health – Lifeline. It was a perfect match – both iconic brands, with national reach, serving a young adult audience. Not to mention that ‘Sport is Calling’ neatly aligns to a...

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PARTNERSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY: LET’S DIFFERENTIATE THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL: PART 2

Uncategorized May 07, 2024

In part 1 (read here) I explained the difference between the words Philanthropy and Capitalism, Collaboration and Partnership, all Greek words popularised by the Romans. Philanthropy means ‘love of mankind’, capitalism means ‘an economic system controlled by private owners for profit’. Quite different. Collaboration and Partnership – which is what we at BePartnerReady.com® specialise in – is about working together, sharing resources and responsibilities with mutual benefit.

Practical differences

There are theoretical differences but also practical and legal differences. When a company partners with a charity and derives a commercial difference (eg there is mutual benefit), it cannot be called a ‘philanthropic donation’ because according to the ATO, it’s not. If a company’s ‘philanthropic foundation’ invests money into a charity and claims a philanthropic tax deduction, they cannot ask or demand logo...

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PARTNERSHIP AND PHILANTHROPY: LET’S DIFFERENTIATE THEM ONCE AND FOR ALL: PART 1

Uncategorized Apr 30, 2024

Some phrases just become part of everyday language. Many come from Shakespeare but occasionally a comedian says something so funny it’s embraced by the world over.

John Cleese is a comedian best known for (TV show) Fawlty Towers but before that he was in a group called Monty Python, with 4 other comic geniuses. In the cult film The Life of Brian he asks “what did the Romans ever do for us?”[1] And the group respond “the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system…”.  It’s funnier when you watch it – trust me.

Philanthropy

As well as wine, irrigation etc, the Romans also popularised[2] a word I hear at least 10 times a day – Philanthropy. It comes from ‘philanthropia’ which means ‘love of humanity’. Its roots are Latin: ‘philos’ (loving) and ‘anthropos’ (human being) combined.

Today, modern philanthropy embodies the act of...

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EMBRACING THE STUDENT MINDSET

Uncategorized Apr 23, 2024

It’s no secret that recruitment and retention of talented people within the non-profit sector is challenging. Staff turnover in 2023 was at 9%[1] (working with non-profits for almost 30 years, I reckon it’s much higher). I believe it has much to do with three things: 1) insufficient support 2) little opportunity for advancement and 3) overwork.

Working in a non-profit is hard. Physically, intellectually and emotionally. People who choose to work for non-profits are deeply invested. They’re about impact, and when they can’t see it, or are being held back from achieving goals, it wounds them, profoundly. I know this as I hear it all too often from students.

So, if they feel unsupported, not nurtured and overworked, it’ll result in burnout, mental health issues and ultimately, yet another resignation.

Professional development - investing in people - is a relatively easy way to address all three issues. 

Support

If you’re working within a big,...

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MEET THE HUMANS BEHIND BEPARTNERREADY.COM®: PERKO

Uncategorized Apr 16, 2024

It was 2018. I was burned out and on the verge of walking away from the business I’d built up over 23 years. I’d moved from Melbourne to a small country town in Victoria (for love and a balanced lifestyle). Let the team go, working alone for the first time in years, struggling with technology & loneliness. I hated every minute of it. The worst-case scenario – lose the business, sell the house that my husband had built with his own hands, buy a caravan and travel around Australia – was looking very appealing.

But fate had other ideas. As a last ditched attempt to try and ‘get with the technology’ program, I put a post on the local Warburton facebook page to see if there was anyone that had the skill set to create videos.

First message and enjoying Hailey’s gin cocktail

Kate Perkins AKA Perko, responded. Kate had spent 4 years as a senior relationship manager at LinkedIn and did brilliant music videos in her spare time, for fun. I...

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