The landscape of corporate sponsorship and event fundraising is changing fast. With post-2026 corporate tax incentives and CSR priorities shifting, fundraising teams need more than elegant galas and golf outings. They need strategies that connect mission, metrics, and partnership value. This session explores how small and mid-sized nonprofits can rethink event fundraising to build stronger, longer-lasting corporate relationships. Zoe Van Dyke from Communities In Schools of Ohio and Kristi Rinck from Bonterra will share how to align sponsorship strategy with corporate priorities, use storytelling and activation to attract the right partners, and measure long-term impact. Attendees will learn how to move beyond one-night events into year-round engagement models that nurture loyalty and recurring support. Through real-world examples, the session will demonstrate how to integrate authenticity into every activation, evaluate ROI and lifetime value from events, and turn one-time underwriting into sustainable annual partnerships. Participants will leave with a practical framework to navigate the evolving corporate giving landscape and clear, repeatable tools to help events deliver measurable returns for both mission and partner.
Learning Objectives:
How to align your sponsorship strategy with changing corporate tax incentives and corporate social responsibility priorities in 2026.
Framework for turning galas and golf outings into authentic, mission-forward experiences that yield sustainable partnerships.
Tools and templates to calculate event ROI and translate one-time corporate gifts into annual commitments.
