Corporate Giving: Best of the Basics

4. Be prepared and informative, but try to avoid information overload.
Put a lid on it! It’s hard, but it’s often better to be quiet and let the donor take the lead. Fundraisers are excited and well-informed of their causes, so naturally they want to just go on and on about their organizations.

Always hold on to that enthusiasm — but keep in mind that the CEO whose ear you’re chewing might have as little as 15 minutes for a meeting. CEOs and others you would approach for a corporate partnership typically are busy and really only need minimal information from you to make their decisions. They want to know what this partnership will do for them, what it will do for you and whether or not it will be a good return on their investment. Less is often more, especially when speaking to a CEO. It’s also important to convey your flexibility and openness to their ideas.