Properties/causes benefit from brand name partners, well beyond the partnership fee

As it turns out brand name corporate partners may be able to provide a reciprocal halo effect to non-profits, too. According to the Cone Trend Tracker, more than three-quarters (78%) of Americans believe a partnership between a nonprofit and a company they trust makes a cause stand out.

“Leading nonprofits are transforming their missions into breakthrough cause brands by harnessing the power of corporate partnerships to rally new supporters with a compelling call-to-action,” explains Alison DaSilva, Cone’s executive vice president of Cause Branding. “While we have seen many companies reap the benefits of cause-related partnerships, these results reveal the same benefits hold true for the nonprofit brand. Strategic corporate partnerships can help nonprofits stand out and create new, loyal ambassadors.”

When a non-profit/corporate partnership is formed, Cone found the following:

59% of Americans are more likely to buy a product associated with the partnership;

50% are more likely to donate to the nonprofit;

49% are more likely to participate in an event for the nonprofit; and

41% are more likely to volunteer for the nonprofit.

The study also found that fewer than half of consumers (45%) think nonprofits and companies disclose enough information about their partnerships. 75 percent want to hear about the results of partnerships, including the effect on the social issue or money raised for the cause.

All of this leads to the question, should properties, non-profit and otherwise, think beyond the upfront corporate partnership fee to the validation with peer corporations, consumer awareness benefits and call-to-action potential that corporate partners can provide?