Landing corporate sponsorships isn't just about having the perfect sponsorship deck – it's about building relationships and understanding what businesses actually need from their investment.

In this episode, we're joined by Logan Stengel as we discuss branching out from small-town sponsors to bigger corporate partnerships. If you've ever sent sponsorship packages into the void or struggled to get past online portals, this conversation explores how to shift from transactional asks to strategic business-to-business relationships that deliver real value for both parties.

We cover:

• Why leading with a sponsorship deck can actually hurt your chances and how relationship-building creates better outcomes

• Understanding corporate sponsorship as a marketing investment and speaking to business goals and ROI

• Strategies for corporate donor cultivation including in-person networking, digital visibility, and getting in front of decision-makers before their budgets are spent

• How to customize sponsorship opportunities based on what sponsors actually care about, rather than presuming their needs

• Evaluating whether pursuing larger corporate sponsors is worth the additional time and sophistication required for your fundraising program

If you're looking to grow your nonprofit sponsorship program beyond local businesses or struggling to connect with corporate decision-makers, this episode offers practical advice on building authentic corporate partnerships that support both your mission and their business objectives.

Resources and links:

• Check out Logan Stengel and host Cathy Mann on LinkedIn

• Book your Fundraising Growth Game Plan call

• Email us at [email protected]

• Subscribe to our email list

• Share this episode with a friend!

Podcast editing and post-production by: Daniella Sorrentino at Feral Culture Lab (feralculturelab.com)

Music:

Intro and Outro Music is Fancy Free by Reveille https://app.soundstripe.com/songs/16267