Ecclesiastical report offers tips on finding the perfect partner.
A new guide seeks to help charities build better partnerships with businesses.
The guide, from specialist insurance firm Ecclesiastical, comes after research found 62% of UK charities do not have a corporate partner despite 67% agreeing that working with business is essential for their future.
It provides charities with tips on how to find the perfect partner, from the initial approach to developing the relationship beyond donations and volunteering. For businesses, it provides a framework for building deeper engagement and maximising the benefits of working with a charity.
The report draws on insight from beneficiaries of last year’s Movement for Good Awards who took part in a roundtable discussion on how charities can better engage with business. An in-depth survey followed to get a deeper understanding of the issues.
With many charities struggling with the impacts of coronavirus, Ecclesiastical says building closer links with the corporate sector is more important than ever.
Chris Pitt, corporate responsibility manager, said: “At Ecclesiastical we believe business should be a force for good. In these challenging times, as charities struggle to cope with the impact of coronavirus, we think this is more important than ever.
“Owned by a charity, we make profits so that we can contribute to the greater good of society. While our model is different, we think all businesses can adopt this philosophy to some degree.
“There are many generous businesses out there providing money and volunteers to charities, but the quality of engagement differs enormously. We wanted to produce this guide to help both charities and businesses get the most of their partnerships. We’re incredibly grateful to our Movement for Good £50,000 beneficiaries for sharing their trials and triumphs to help shape this guide.”
The Movement for Good awards saw £1million given to good causes last year. Ten charities from across the UK each received £50,000 to fund innovative projects in their communities. Ecclesiastical is giving away another £1million this year. Five hundred charities have already received £1,000 each and applications for this year’s ten £50,000 grants are open until 24 July. For more information, visit Ecclesiastical’s website.
