Gold-Medal Philanthropy: USA Water Polo's Playbook for Corporate Partnerships

Staring at a massive funding gap and wondering how other nonprofits seamlessly land major corporate deals?Sending out cold pitches that only get swallowed by gatekeepers is frustrating, exhausting, and leaves serious revenue on the table. But securing reliable funding doesn't have to feel like shouting into the void.In this episode of The Nonprofit Boost, we are joined by Grant Jones, Head of Philanthropy for USA Water Polo, to uncover the competitive playbook behind landing high-level corporate partnerships. Grant brings an "athlete's mindset" to fundraising, sharing exactly how to build a robust strategy grounded in intention, timeliness, and deep respect for the donor journey.Learn how prioritizing personalized donor stewardship and employee engagement can transform a one-off transactional sponsor into a long-term champion.What You Will Learn1. Gatekeeper Strategies: Actionable plays to get past initial roadblocks, utilize warm introductions, and secure meetings with key decision-makers.2. Pivoting the "No": How to turn a lack of immediate budget into valuable alternative support like volunteer engagements or corporate in-kind donations.3. Data Reporting: The customized approach to asking "what does success look like to you" and sharing impact data that guarantees your corporate partners see their true ROI.4. Long-Term Renewals: Why immediate donor stewardship and bold, multi-year asks are crucial for locking in sustainable revenue.Also Available on Youtube.