A few weeks ago, we gathered a room full of people who rarely get to sit down together without an agenda: CSR leaders from major corporations and nonprofit executives. All dealing with the same reality: everyone wants to do more, but resources feel tighter than ever.

The setup was simple. We started with just the corporate funders, joined by Leleah James and Ashley Rigby, for the first conversation of the afternoon. No presentations. No pitches. We gathered their insights and advice to share during the second half of the conversation, when we invited nonprofit leaders to join us – with our friends from Charity Navigator helping to facilitate the discussion.

Our goal wasn't to solve everything in one room. It was to create some real connection and share practical insights. Because let's be honest – we're all trying to figure this out as we go.

The conversations were refreshingly candid. Here's what we heard:

1. Everyone's Juggling More Than They Can Handle (And Looking for Collective Courage)

This wasn't news to anyone in the room. Nonprofit teams are stretched thin. CSR teams are facing increased scrutiny and pressure to justify their programs..

But here's what was encouraging: there was real energy around finding ways to be collectively courageous. Individual funders may feel limited in what they can do alone, but when they come together and find the right nonprofit partners, they can make a greater impact.

The takeaway: When both sides start with their shared purpose, they can create a virtuous cycle. Funders who are transparent about their capacity constraints and priorities enable nonprofits to make better asks. Nonprofits who are honest about their bandwidth and realistic about deliverables help funders feel confident in their investments. Mission alignment becomes the groundwork for mutual support.

2. Know Your Numbers (And Know Your Partner's Priorities)

This one was crystal clear from the CSR side: funders want to know nonprofit numbers. How much do your programs cost? How much does it cost to create impact? How much impact can you actually create?

Not knowing these numbers could exclude you from funding. But so will a "we'll do whatever" response.

The flip side? Nonprofits should understand funder priorities before asking for money. Make sure your mission aligns with theirs. And always bring case studies showing how you've helped in related areas before.

The takeaway: Nonprofits need to come prepared with clear metrics and relevant examples. Funders need to be transparent about their priorities and focus areas upfront.

3. Focus on Partnership, Not Pitching

One of the strongest themes from both conversations: the best relationships start with partnership thinking, not transactional pitching.

Nonprofits should think about what they need beyond the check. What other resources could a corporate funder supply that would be valuable from a mission perspective? Networks? Communications support? Strategic expertise?

And funders acknowledged that some responsibility for finding good partnerships should lie with them, not just expecting nonprofits to do all the outreach.

The takeaway: A good mantra emerged: "If you ask for money, you'll get advice. If you ask for advice, you'll get money." Start with partnership conversations, not funding requests.

4. Get Local and Get Specific

There was strong consensus that finding the right local focus should be a priority for corporate funders right now. This includes working with the right intermediaries – groups of similarly aligned organizations based on geography or cause that can work collectively toward greater action.

Local community foundations came up as particularly valuable partners in this approach. They know the landscape and can help connect funders with the right local players.

The takeaway: Think local, act collectively. Use intermediaries like community foundations to find the right partners and create more targeted impact.

5. Build Coalitions (Everyone Wants This)

Both sides were excited about coalition-building. Nonprofits are already thinking about ways to work together more strategically. Funders see the value in supporting collaborative approaches that can serve end beneficiaries more effectively.

This included real talk about innovative approaches like organizational consolidations that could be helpful to the communities they serve.

The takeaway: Look for opportunities to build coalitions and support collaborative approaches. Small gatherings of the right players can create in-person opportunities to connect and innovate.

6. Make It Feel Like True Partnership

Nonprofits were clear about wanting funders to really participate in their missions, not just write checks. They want multi-year and unrestricted funding for good reason – it allows for real partnership.

They also want different staff members to have conversations, not just executive directors and development directors doing all the relationship building.

The takeaway: Funders can engage beyond the C-suite and think about how different team members can connect. Nonprofits can create opportunities for funders to truly understand and participate in the work.

7. Impact Measurement Can Work for Everyone – When Done Right

A practical insight that resonated: nonprofits and funders can use data to create stories that lead to justification for more funding.

Both sides acknowledged that authentic conversations are challenging right now because funders are limited in what they can say and how they can say it. But impact measurement that is collaborative and intentional can clarify priorities, guide strategy, and tell better stories for both nonprofits and their funders.

We heard real optimism about measurement when it is constructive rather than rigid and imposed. The corporate funders getting the best results were asking nonprofits to help define what success looks like. When both sides have a voice in measurement, it builds trust instead of creating more hoops to jump through.

The takeaway: Good measurement isn't about proving perfection – it's about learning, improving, and aligning on what matters most. Focus on collaborative frameworks that help both sides tell compelling stories and justify continued investment. (Ya know, like True Impact–and sorry for the shameless plug!)

What's Next?

This wasn't about solving everything in one afternoon. It was about surfacing the practical insights that can lead to stronger partnerships in a challenging environment.

The energy in the room was genuine. People want to work together better. They want to find ways to be collectively courageous. And they're willing to have honest conversations about how to make that happen.

At True Impact, we'll keep creating space for these kinds of discussions. We'll keep helping partners figure out what success looks like and how to measure it in ways that support the work.

But mostly, we'll keep showing up and listening. Because that's where real progress happens – in rooms full of people who care enough to keep trying to find calm in the chaos.