5 Tips for Fundraisers to Build Strategic Corporate Partnerships

"I'm amazed when potential grantees don't know what we do," Klebanov said. "Know our four companies. Know our product is our people. Do your homework on the company you are approaching."

Talk to your volunteers
The biggest stakeholders for many corporations when it comes to donating money or resources to a cause is their employees' volunteer efforts with that nonprofit. So it's always wise to talk to your volunteers and find out if they have any connections to the corporate world, and how to leverage that. Listen to your volunteers to not only make volunteer experiences the best they can possibly be, but also to unearth other opportunities, Klebanov said.

Network to network, not just ask
"Fundraising is the lifeblood of nonprofits, but when networking, we don't want to be seen as checkbooks," Klebanov said. "Passion is contagious. If you share that passion, it resonates, and that could eventually lead to a strong relationship."