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Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships: Advice on Engaging Corporate Partners

Kim Anthony • October 4, 2022

Companies gave nearly $17 billion to charities during 2020 (Giving USA 2020), representing a critical revenue source and strategic partner for nonprofits. With 8 in 10 Americans expecting businesses to positively impact society (Cone/Porter Novelli, 2018), gone are the days of companies merely being satisfied with visibility and their name on an event T-shirt. Today, engaging corporate partners requires nonprofits to think differently about how they approach companies, identify opportunities, develop a corporate partnership strategy and measure impact.


To help nonprofits forge successful relationships with more companies, we asked two corporate social responsibility experts and funders for their advice. Here’s the guidance Michelle Hamilton, senior community investment manager at the Florida Blue Foundation, and  Chris Johnson, senior social responsibility specialist at The Mosaic Company, shared to help you and your nonprofit successfully engage corporate partners.


What are the most common mistakes you see nonprofits make when it comes to corporate partnerships?

Michelle: Many organizations apply for funding without understanding our company’s mission or areas of focus. Or, they submit large funding requests before a funder has learned about their work or established a relationship. Don’t be afraid to ask a potential partner for an initial meeting. That preliminary outreach can help your nonprofit understand what opportunities to pursue, provide time-saving information and begin building a longer-term relationship.

Chris: We also get many funding requests from individuals and organizations we don’t know. Commit to cultivating relationships and communicating with company contacts — not just when you’re asking for money. Don’t forget that companies consist of your neighbors who care about the issues impacting your community. Find that common ground and establish a relationship before making significant fundraising asks.


What are you looking for in a nonprofit partner?

Chris and Michelle: There are five things we consistently look for in our nonprofit partners:

  1. Alignment with our company’s purpose and priorities — We seek partners who strategically connect the dots between our shared work and objectives. Take the time to be intentional in identifying where both the company and your nonprofit align.

  2. Collaboration — We prioritize nonprofits that work across the community with others and avoid duplicating efforts to ensure dollars stretch as far as possible.

  3. Regular communication — We love when nonprofits keep us informed about what’s happening within their organizations. The best relationships are with those who check in, not just when they need something, but who treat us as a strategic partner invested in their work.

  4. Proximity to where our employees live and work and the societal issues in those communities

  5. Being data-driven — We expect nonprofits to use data and insights when presenting funding needs and proposing solutions to address them through a partnership.

What do you expect from nonprofits when it comes to impact and your return on investment?

Michelle: When it comes to measurement, we look at two sides of the coin. Event activation is beneficial for educational opportunities, lead generation and brand visibility, while programmatic funding allows us to improve lives through issues like food security, mental well-being and health equity. Impact goals and reporting vary from partner to partner because every objective and program is different. There must be a dedicated collaboration between the nonprofit and corporate partner to determine how to measure success and define what is realistic for the nonprofit to capture.


Chris: We seek both internal and external impact with our partners.

Internally, we care about building the capacity of our nonprofit partners, enhancing their sustainability and improving their ability to achieve their stated objectives. We don’t want our partners to create something to receive funding; we want to enhance what nonprofits are already doing well while identifying ways to improve or innovate it.

Externally, we want to solve community problems and address systemic and institutional issues that are impacting communities. This requires a robust approach. It’s much simpler for corporations and foundations to put their name on something or give money through an event sponsorship. On the flip side, it’s easier for nonprofits to host an event and raise money. It’s more challenging to address systemic and institutional issues because they entail data evaluation, cross-sector collaboration and a deeper investment of time and resources. We want to take a multi-faceted approach so we can fund emerging needs while also addressing the systemic issues that affect our communities.

Finally, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are important at our company. There are five we focus on, and most of the nonprofit work we fund fits into or advances one of those areas. Understanding potential partners’ priorities is critical to achieving the greatest impact.


What practical advice would you give to nonprofit leaders who want to engage corporate partners more effectively?


Chris and Michelle:

  • Ensure you’ve done your homework on the company and understand what they do and if a partnership is a good fit.

  • Invest in yourself and your ability to cultivate and steward relationships. Professional development can help you build necessary or new skills to garner a meeting, create a winning proposal and deepen relationships.

  • Commit to building relationships outside of the fundraising process. Participate in your local chamber or other business groups. Genuinely get to know community leaders without an agenda.

  • Be transparent. As a funder, it’s essential to understand what’s working well along with the challenges. We have access to resources and expertise that can help you mitigate challenges when they arise. Don’t be afraid to share the bad with the good.

  • Engage your board of directors to assist you in opening doors, making introductions and asking for funding. It can take some of the pressure off your staff and create a shared leadership responsibility.

  • Follow current and potential funders or corporate partners on social media and engage in a dialogue with them. This allows you to stay apprised of both the big and small things happening within the company and open opportunities for your nonprofit to celebrate them.

  • Ask your corporate partners what you can do for them. Instead of only asking them for support, find out if there are ways you can support them in your daily activities such as sharing their good news or helping them connect to the community.

    This article originally appeared in
    Nonprofit Leadership Center

By Kim Anthony November 24, 2025
AStory of Representation, Innovation, and the Next Chapter of Urban Economic Power Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE) has announced a powerful new chapter in its legacy of economic mobility and community-centered entrepreneurship: Alexia Grevious Henderson has been named President of Magic Johnson Enterprises, effective immediately. Her appointment signals more than a promotion — it represents a generational shift. It affirms the rise of a new class of visionary leaders who understand that wealth-building, community uplift, and strategic innovation must move together. A Leader Rooted in Excellence — and Built for Impact Since joining MJE in 2017 as Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, Henderson has steadily advanced, proving herself to be a builder, a strategist, and a trusted architect of the MJE brand. Most recently, as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, she led: High-level corporate partnerships Fulfillment of national and global brand contracts Integrated marketing and communications efforts that expanded MJE’s influence and reach Under her leadership, MJE strengthened its position as one of the most respected vehicles for community-driven economic growth. Magic Johnson himself affirmed her brilliance: “Alexia is one of the brightest young minds in business today. Her leadership and creativity have elevated our brand, our partnerships, and our mission.” Her track record reflects what the Urban Enterprise Framework celebrates: excellence, service, access, and the advancement of historically underestimated communities. A Career Anchored in Purpose Before MJE, Henderson gained experience with the Washington Commanders (formerly the Redskins) and began her career with the NCAA in Indianapolis. Her work and reputation have earned her national recognition, including being named: Sports Business Journal’s “30 New Voices Under 30” Diverse Representation’s “Top Ten to Watch” Beyond corporate success, she serves on the board of A.Bevy, an arts and education nonprofit helping young adults find clarity in their passion, path, and purpose — embodying the Urban Enterprise principle that leadership is service. A Powerful Representation Moment for Urban America The Urban Enterprise Framework recognizes milestones like this as more than professional wins — they are community wins. Henderson’s presidency represents: A breakthrough for women in the C-suite leadership A breakthrough for Black leaders shaping national economic strategy A breakthrough for the next generation for urban innovators and changemakers Rooted in Community, Positioned for Global Impact A native of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Henderson is a graduate of Clemson University and holds an MBA from Pepperdine University. She now resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Aaron — the heart of a city where entrepreneurship, entertainment, and community-driven innovation intersect. About Magic Johnson Enterprises Founded by Earvin “Magic” Johnson, MJE is a diversified investment company committed to lifting communities through strategic partnerships across entertainment, sports, technology, real estate, and more. Its work aligns deeply with the Urban Enterprise Framework: building access, expanding ownership, and driving economic mobility in urban and underestimated communities.
By Kim Anthony November 17, 2025
In the tapestry of American entrepreneurship, one thread has been tugged and twisted for centuries. It’s the thread of access—or rather, the lack of it. Access to capital. Access to ownership. Access to the kind of financial tools that build legacies and create wealth that lasts. For Black entrepreneurs, this thread remains stubbornly unfinished. Not because of a lack of brilliance, hustle, or vision, but because the capital necessary to scale dreams has too often been withheld. Into that longstanding gap steps the Black Cooperative Impact Fund (BCIF)—an organization that is more than a lender. It is a force. A movement. A quiet revolution wrapped in the conviction that Black economic power isn’t optional. It’s essential. BCIF isn’t simply distributing money. It is rewriting the narrative of what’s possible for Black entrepreneurs in Southern California. It is challenging the old assumptions about who gets funded, who gets to grow, and who gets to build the kind of wealth that outlives them. A Revolution Rooted in Economic Empowerment When you encounter BCIF for the first time, you feel it—an energy, a heartbeat, a purpose. Their declaration comes with clarity and courage: “Economic empowerment is our revolution.” It isn’t rhetoric. It’s strategy. BCIF understands what many overlook: When Black entrepreneurs thrive, everything around them transforms. Families stabilize. Neighborhoods shift. Wealth accumulates. Opportunities multiply. And a new kind of freedom emerges—one built not on survival but on ownership, agency, and possibility. This isn’t transactional lending. This is long-term social change. This is equity in motion. This is self-determination at scale. A Mission Built for Liberation BCIF operates as a community-rooted 501(c)(3) with a mission that is both practical and visionary. They provide interest-free microloans to Black-owned businesses that are committed to building economic power in their own communities. Their work plants seeds—assets, living-wage jobs, generational wealth—that grow into something far larger than a single enterprise. Their vision reaches further: to help close the racial wealth gap by supporting the entrepreneurs who already stand at the forefront of Black economic advancement. The innovators. The creatives. The problem-solvers. The community builders. They have the ideas, the grit, and the drive—but too often, not the fair and accessible capital to match. BCIF’s goal is as ambitious as it is necessary: to become the leading microloan provider for Black-owned businesses in Southern California and to fund 1,000 thriving enterprises by 2040. It’s more than a benchmark. It’s a blueprint—a long-term strategy to transform the economic landscape of a region. What Sets BCIF Apart In a financial world cluttered with red tape and barriers, BCIF stands in a different posture. Their funding model is rooted in clarity, trust, and community. Their loans carry no interest—none. No fees. No predatory terms disguised as support. Just capital that stays exactly where it belongs: circulating inside Black businesses and Black communities. Their focus is intentional. While many organizations speak broadly about “diverse markets,” BCIF centers the Black community unapologetically. Because closing the racial wealth gap requires direct investment—not generic, not diluted, not symbolic. And unlike traditional lenders, BCIF refuses to create hoops meant to disqualify. There is no punishing jargon, no unnecessarily restrictive approval processes. Their model is transparent and accessible, designed to empower instead of exclude. Every loan comes back into the fund, where it becomes fuel for the next entrepreneur. One business’s repayment becomes another business’s opportunity. It is the purest expression of cooperative economics—each success feeding the next, each win lifting the community higher. Why BCIF Matters—For Business, Community, and Justice It’s simple to say, “We support Black businesses.” It’s much harder to build systems that make that support real. BCIF understands that business ownership is one of the most powerful pathways to generational wealth. Ownership changes everything—income, options, legacy. Black-owned businesses also create the kind of jobs that stabilize communities and expand opportunity from the inside out. They also understand that the racial wealth gap is not a coincidence. It is structural. Deliberate. Historical. And so the solution must be structural too. BCIF doesn’t offer charity—they offer infrastructure: accessible capital, community investment, and a circular system that sustains itself. Their model ensures that every loan becomes the seed of another. Entrepreneurs support each other without ever having to meet. It is wealth-building as community practice. How the Model Comes Alive BCIF’s approach to lending is as human-centered as their mission. Black entrepreneurs across Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange counties can apply at any time throughout the year. The screening is thorough but fair, typically taking about four weeks, with approved businesses receiving capital within two. Most of the money donated—about three-quarters—flows directly into loans. The remainder supports operations, ensuring the fund is sustainable long term. There is no profit motive behind these decisions. Only impact. Your Vision and BCIF’s Vision Intertwine If you care about thriving Black communities… If you believe in entrepreneurs who create opportunity where there was none… If you believe economic justice is part of social justice… Then your values are already reflected in BCIF’s work. And there are powerful ways to stand with the movement. You can partner—bringing BCIF into your events, networks, and business circles. You can refer—connecting Black-owned businesses that simply need a fair chance. Or you can amplify—sharing BCIF’s message, because visibility is power and stories ignite movements. A Call to Step Into the Revolution Revolutions don’t begin in crowds. They begin in convictions—one person choosing to act, then another, and another. BCIF is constructing a new economic reality, and you are invited to help shape it. If you’re a Black entrepreneur in Southern California, you can apply for an interest-free loan. If you believe in economic justice, you can invest in the fund that invests in your community. If you want Black economic power to rise, you can share this mission with those who need to hear it. Every voice matters. Every connection matters. Every resource matters. The Final Word BCIF isn’t simply offering loans—they are shifting power. They are challenging the narrative of who gets funded, who gets trusted, who gets to build wealth, and who gets to shape the future. They are proving that wealth creation is not a luxury or an afterthought. It is a pathway to justice. A pathway to freedom. A pathway to a better tomorrow. The Black Cooperative Impact Fund is more than a financial institution. It is a catalyst. A movement. A reclaiming of possibility. And the story is still being written.
By Kim Anthony September 4, 2023
The prospect of running for public office is both exciting and daunting. It offers an opportunity to make impactful changes, but it also exposes you to scrutiny and requires tremendous commitment. If you're contemplating throwing your hat into the political ring, it's essential to think through multiple factors before making your decision. Here are eight critical considerations to mull over: 1. Personal Readiness Entering politics is a life-altering choice, not just for you but also for your family and close ones. The demands on your time, privacy, and emotional well-being can be overwhelming. Questions to Ask : Are you emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared for the challenges? Have you discussed this with your family, and are they supportive? 2. Core Beliefs and Values Politics is an arena of competing interests and ideologies. Having a clear understanding of your core beliefs and values will guide your political journey. Questions to Ask : What causes or issues are most important to you? Are your views aligned with the electorate you wish to serve? 3. Skill Set and Qualifications Being in public office requires a diverse skill set, including but not limited to leadership, public speaking, and policy analysis. Questions to Ask : Do you possess the skills needed to succeed in office? If not, are you willing to learn or surround yourself with experts who do? 4. Financial Considerations Campaigning can be expensive, and public office may not offer the financial rewards that other careers do. Questions to Ask : Do you have the financial resources to run a campaign and sustain yourself in office? Are you ready to disclose your financial status, as is often required? 5. Electability and Public Perception Popularity and public perception play a crucial role in politics. Your history, conduct, and even appearance are often subject to public scrutiny. Questions to Ask : How are you perceived by the community? Do you have any skeletons in the closet that could become public and harm your candidacy? 6. Team and Support System A successful campaign requires a dedicated team for various functions: strategizing, fundraising, public relations, and more. Questions to Ask : Do you have a trustworthy team or know how to assemble one? Do you have mentors or advisors in the political arena? 7. Regulatory and Legal Requirements Different positions have different eligibility criteria, filing requirements, and regulations. Questions to Ask : Are you familiar with the legal requirements for the position you are considering? Do you meet the eligibility criteria? 8. Long-Term Goals and Exit Strategy Public office is often not a lifetime appointment. Whether you serve one term or multiple, you will eventually move on. Questions to Ask : What are your long-term goals? Do you see politics as a career or a stepping stone to other endeavors? What's your exit strategy? The Starting Point, Not the Destination Contemplating these eight points is just the starting point; running for public office is a long, complicated journey that will demand constant adjustment and reevaluation. However, these considerations can give you a solid foundation for making an informed decision. Running for public office is a significant decision that should not be taken lightly. If you are considering this path, taking the time to reflect on these eight considerations will provide valuable insights and prepare you for the challenges and rewards that lie ahead.
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