How to Cultivate Good Relationships With Other Community Leaders for a Nonprofit

Getting your organization known and liked by community leaders can be slow going - but it's a necessary process that will pay off in the long run.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Telephones
• Local Newspapers
• Ball Game Tickets
• Museum Tickets
• Postage Stamps
• Bonded Paper
• Envelopes
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

1. Get contact information for the movers and shakers in the community in which your nonprofit is located. This information can be found in the Business Journal's Book of Lists.

2. Go through the book thoroughly and choose the top 10 companies in your area - then get on the phone. Set up appointments with the companies' community relations people and get to know them.

3. Get out of your office and see what and who is in your community. If you have a boss that truly understands community relations, he or she will expect you to be out of the office. Go to your local zoo, art museum, baseball park, university and other places where things are likely to be happening. Get to know the community relations people at these places and discuss partnership ideas with one another.

4. Write letters. If you can't physically get to all of the places you would like, start a letter-writing campaign of your own. Put everyone in the business community on the list and generate your letter in a fashion that lets them know who you are and what you are about. Tell them of your mission and then tell them again. Remember, the name of the game is visibility.

5. Invite your new friends over for a tour of the nonprofit; it's a surefire way to gain support for your cause. Letting someone see what you do firsthand and allowing them to see their community dollars at work is a great way to excite other community members about your organization.

Tips & Warnings

• When you meet with other community relations people - at the zoo or the sports stadium, for instance - don't worry if you don't immediately think of a way to generate good press or visibility from your partnership. Your primary purpose here is to build relationships in the community in which you live and give a good name to the organization that you represent.
• If you sometimes feel like you are being a pest, that's good! It means you're doing your job and getting to know your community. All community relations people do the same thing and most understand your goal.