Engaging the Business Community

Local and national business partnerships are essential to the success of the Back-to-School Campaign. This kit shows how to find businesses willing to participate, how to make initial contact, how to sell your cause and how sustain relationships with existing partners.

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Table of Contents

Engaging the Business Community, Step 1: Getting Started
Think like a business: be results-oriented and understand why business get involved with public education campaigns.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 2: Your Plan
What do you want to accomplish? What resources do you have, and which do you need?

Engaging the Business Community, Step 3: Knowing Your Audience
It's important to understand whom you're trying to appeal to, and which businesses will help you achieve that goal.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 4: Targeting Businesses
Do your homework: Learning about prospective business partners is key to getting them involved in your effort.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 5: Preparing Your Approach
From preparing the pitch to figuring out whom to contact, it's important to prepare your approach.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 6: Making Contact
Practice makes perfect, but a good initial pitch strategy is crucial to making the sale.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 7: Following Up
Businesses are busy, so follow-up is crucial.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 8: Building Business Relationships
Sustaining relationships and building long-lasting partnerships should be a priority for coalitions and businesses.

Engaging the Business Community, Step 9: Working with the Media
Media exposure helps your business partners gain positive press coverage.

Engaging the Business Community: Promising Strategies
Read case studies about business outreach successes.