Building relationships for success

Relationships are key in the nonprofit and business communities, and the Vancouver-based Nonprofit Network of Southwest Washington is trying out an event to forge invaluable connections between the two.

The support network for Southwest Washington nonprofits will launch the inaugural Nonprofit and Business Connections Fair Oct. 7 at the Hilton Vancouver. The event aims to unite philanthropically minded businesses with nonprofits and nonprofits with businesses that could provide key services and are attuned to their needs, said Jeanne Kojis, executive director of the Nonprofit Network.

“The nonprofit world relies so heavily on relationships,” said Randa Cleaves, partner at ACCG Avenue to Possibilities, a Vancouver firm that provides consulting to nonprofits. “People have two resources – time and money – and nonprofits have need of both.

ACCG will be an exhibitor at the fair, which Cleaves said gives the opportunity to meet face-to-face and start cultivating relationships.

“The convenience factor to come to one place and learn about corporate funding opportunities in the community and meet possible vendors should really streamline the process,” she said.

Giving by businesses across the nation is likely to remain flat this year as the jumpy economy eats into companies’ profits and new charitable projects are put on hold, according to the annual Chronicle of Philanthropy survey of corporate philanthropy. And Southwest Washington has seen a 40 percent increase in the number of local nonprofits in the last 10 years, Kojis said.

“An event like this is important because it’s easy to view the nonprofit sector as always wanting something from businesses and individuals,” she said. “Really, they offer strong business partners, especially with the increasing number of businesses recognizing that nonprofits have almost the same needs as business, but might need something a little different.”

Nonprofits need to buy services like banking, insurance and office supplies, but businesses should keep in mind that they have to watch another bottom line – service to the community and their missions.

“Nonprofits do a good job of running their business,” Kojis said. “We’re just trying to connect them to resources outside what their normal circle would be.”

The half-day fair will have three components: The Roundtable Room, where nonprofits and corporate funders can network; Hall of Exhibitors, where nonprofits can connect with business services like marketing, fundraising, bookkeeping and consulting; and Business Toolbox Sessions, to provide resources nonprofits need to succeed.

“We’re expanding ‘resources’ to mean beyond money,” Kojis said.

If the pilot run is successful, she would like to expand the fair into a conference with speakers.

As an exhibitor, Cleaves – who also sits on the Resource Council for the Nonprofit Network – has been thinking about how to meet members of the nonprofit sector to establish a rapport and be of service. She has created a handout with updates about the new Form 990 by creating a useful, condensed piece of information, she said.

“I think whenever we can gather together a large group of people from the very important nonprofit sector, we can create a greater awareness of the significance of the community,” Cleaves said.

More information about the event is available at www.npnnw.org.

 

Megan Patrick-Vaughn can be reached at mpatrick@vbjusa.com.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.