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.

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.