Over the past two weeks, I've received great reader feedback on my ​Anti-Partnership Partnership Strategy post​ in my last newsletter. Corporate partnerships can be frustrating for those who lack the resources, time, experience, and staff to execute them properly. "Joe, I am feeling so defeated by (the lack of) corporate partnerships in my development department of one (me!). It really knocked my confidence in fundraising as a whole, and reading was like therapy. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one struggling. I’ve flirted with the idea of stopping any effort in that dept, an ..read more

    I got a reader's message after sharing my ​Partnership Solicitation Process Map​ two weeks ago. "Wow. Corporate partnerships are a lot of work. Not sure it's worth it." True story. Most nonprofits don't realize how much money, time, staff, and energy they need to invest in a corporate partnership program to make it successful. ?? ?? Today, I want to suggest a corporate partnership approach that 90% - maybe even 95% - of nonprofits should adopt. I call it the Anti-Partnership Partnership Strategy (APPS). Here's how it works. We begin by acknowledging some uncomfortable facts abou ..read more

Soon, I'm recording my new presentation on AI and partnerships for the ​Corporate Partnerships Conference (CPC24)​ on Thursday, March 21st. Today, I'll preview my preso and give you a chance to contribute a partnership prompt that everyone can benefit from knowing. ✌️ My presentation is centered on my own Partnership Solicitation Process Map and ChatGPT. There are many other AI tools out there, but I'm only focusing on ChatGPT because I think it's the best tool for newbies. During my presentation, I'll show you how AI can help at each stage of the partnership process. This is super-practical a ..read more

    I'm again excited to join the Corporate Partnerships Conference (CPC24)! ???? Here are four reasons why you should join me at CPC24 on Thursday, March 21st. ? Corporate partnerships are everywhere now. They are no longer just local, regional, or national. THEY ARE INTERNATIONAL. And this is the only truly international conference on corporate partnerships. Now more than ever, we must toss away our parochialism and learn from corporate partnership pros worldwide. ✍️ I'll be delivering a new presentation. It's called ?How to Use AI to Build Better Corporate Partnerships. I'll be s ..read more

    Every partnership professional I talk to wants to partner with well-known businesses that are already supporting great causes. It's a solid strategy, but you should also spend at least some of your time targeting new businesses or startups. Imagine getting on the ground floor of a startup! Instead of waiting in line behind your competitors, you'll be first to develop a deep and long-term relationship. "Please, Joe. Startups don't have any money!" That can be true! But you don't want their money anyway. You want their customers' and their employees' money. As I often say... There ..read more

    One of the things I really like about AI tools such as ChatGPT is its emphasis on answers over results. When I type a question into Google, I get a bunch of articles I then have to read through. ?‍? But when I type a question into ChatGPT, I get the answer to my question! A benefit of ChatGPT is I can ask it to limit its search for answers to the content published on Selfish Giving. Remember, I've been blogging on my site since 2005 - yep, nearly 20 years! - so I have A LOT of content to pull from. For example, I entered the following prompt into ChatGPT: Searching only Selfishg ..read more

    2024 is not off to a good start. My dog, "Charlie the Yorkie," died Friday morning. My wife and I were away in New Hampshire just after Christmas when my son called. Charlie was coughing a lot, and it was affecting his breathing. Speeding home, we rushed Charlie to a doggie emergency room, where doctors diagnosed him with a collapsed trachea. Yorkies have delicate tracheas, and we had spent years treating Charlie's with medication. But his trachea had finally failed. Charlie had emergency surgery, and a stent was placed to open his airway. After a night in the hospital, Charlie ..read more

Happy New Year! ??? Three things this week.? 1️⃣ A big thank you to everyone who took my survey before the holidays. My goal was to get 5% of my subscribers to complete it. I hit 7%! ? 2️⃣ Everyone who completed the survey was entered into a random drawing to win a Selfish Giving tee. The first batch of t-shirts will go out this week! Some of you will be getting vintage and collectible CauseTalk Radio tees! ? I'm sending another batch out next week! 3️⃣ Based on the survey results, here's what's changing (and not changing) in 2024. ✌️ The biggest news is that I'll publish my newsletter EVERY O ..read more

Two things this week.✌️ 1️⃣ With the holiday on Monday, I won't be publishing a newsletter on Wednesday, December 27th. I'll be back in your inbox on Wednesday, January 3rd. 2️⃣ Over 2% of my newsletter subscribers have taken MY YEAR-END NEWSLETTER SURVEY! Thank you! However, I want to get to 5% of my subscribers. Can you please - pretty please with holiday sugar cookies on top - help me by completing it? It's just seven questions. And one of those questions is if you want a FREE Selfish Giving t-shirt! You completing my survey is the only thing on my wishlist for Christmas. ? Well, that and w ..read more

Don't forget tomorrow's webinar on how sales coaching can turbocharge your partnership team's success. We have two fabulous presenters.?? Dan Cohen, Founder, Cause Partners Courtney Davidson, Corporate Partnerships, Wounded Warrior Project PUT ME IN COACH ✍️ Partnership Notes 1. This cannabis retailer encourages customers to recycle the plastic that encases certain cannabis products by offering a $4 pre-rolled joint for every piece of packaging they return. I felt like the last paragraph could just as well be a message to nonprofits hesitant to work with the cannabis industry. "Don’t be ..read more