Businesses That Help Fundraise: The Ultimate Guide for Nonprofits, Schools & Communities

Why Partnering With Businesses Matters

Strategic partnerships with mission-aligned businesses can help nonprofits expand their fundraising reach, access new funding channels, and reduce administrative hours. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, more than 50,000 organizations have used CharityAuctions since 2007. The right business partner is a growth strategy, not just a one-time fundraising tactic.

Partnerships with businesses can give your cause:

• More funding channels: corporate giving, sponsorship, matching gifts
• Bigger reach: shared marketing and audiences
• Fewer admin hours: tools and automation
• Long-term impact: not just one-time events

Create your auction to engage sponsors and turn corporate donations into active donor participation. See silent auction software for a full platform overview. See how to run a charity auction for a full event planning guide.

1. Online Fundraising Platforms

Why They Matter

These businesses provide the infrastructure to run virtual, hybrid, or in-person campaigns, often with built-in donor engagement tools.

Top Features to Look For

• Custom branded fundraising pages
• Real-time donor tracking
• Secure online payments
• Peer-to-peer fundraising support
• Automated receipts and reports

Examples

• CharityAuctions: online auctions and mobile bidding
• Peer-to-peer donation platforms
• Crowdfunding platforms
• Modern donor engagement tools

Choose platforms that make it easy for donors to give and for you to manage data. According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, auctions with mobile bidding raise an average of 43% more per event than paper-based formats. Hidden fees or poor donor experience can cost you thousands in lost revenue.

2. Businesses That Offer Corporate Matching Gifts

Why They Matter

Matching-gift programs double the impact of a donor's contribution. Many businesses will match employee donations dollar-for-dollar.

How to Leverage Matching Gifts

• Add matching gift reminders on your donation forms
• Partner with matching platforms to automate the process
• Feature top matching partners in campaigns

Examples

• Corporate matching platforms that automate gift matching
• Matching gift automation tools
• Corporate grants management platforms

Promote matching options clearly at checkout or on your donation confirmation page.

3. Local Businesses & Sponsorships

Why They Matter

Local businesses are often eager to support nearby schools, clubs, and nonprofits, and gain community goodwill in return.

Effective Partnership Models

• Event sponsorship (cash or in-kind donations)
• Percentage-of-sales donations ("Shop to Support" days)
• Employee volunteer programs
• Raffle or prize donations

Examples

• Restaurants offering profit-share nights
• Boutiques hosting donation drives
• Gyms or fitness studios offering class fundraisers

Approach businesses that align with your mission: it is more authentic and longer lasting.

4. Cause Marketing & Brand Partnerships

Why They Matter

Larger brands can amplify your mission through cause marketing campaigns, combining their marketing reach with your impact.

Partnership Types

• Co-branded campaigns (e.g., $1 per sale donated)
• Social media takeovers or influencer fundraisers
• Long-term sponsorship agreements

Examples

• Patagonia: Environmental giving
• TOMS: One for One program
• Bombas: Donation per purchase model

Cause marketing often drives higher engagement than traditional ads because it gives consumers a reason to care.

5. Fundraising Event Partners

These businesses specialize in enhancing live or hybrid fundraising events, helping organizations increase participation, revenue, and donor retention.

Categories

• Live auctioneers and emcees
• Mobile bidding and donation tools
• Corporate sponsors for prizes
• Entertainment vendors

Examples

• CharityAuctions: Mobile bidding and auction software
• Auctioneering firms specializing in nonprofit galas
• Catering and entertainment partners for fundraising nights

Great events are about experience as much as fundraising. Professional partners often increase per-donor giving.

6. Payroll Giving & Workplace Fundraising Programs

Some companies allow employees to donate a portion of their paycheck directly to nonprofits.

Benefits

• Predictable recurring revenue
• Low administrative burden
• Donor retention

Examples

• Workplace giving platforms
• Employee giving programs
• Corporate payroll donation programs

7. Product-Based Fundraising Partners

Product fundraising remains popular because it gives supporters something tangible in return for their contribution.

Popular Models

• Cookie dough, popcorn, and chocolate sales
• Apparel and merch campaigns
• Subscription box collaborations

Examples

• World's Finest Chocolate
• Bonfire
• Fundraising Brick

Choose products that reflect your mission or your community's values, not just any catalog fundraiser.

8. Technology & Service Providers That Indirectly Help Fundraise

Not every partner has to process donations directly. Some enable more efficient operations, freeing up resources to fundraise better.

Examples:

• Email marketing providers
• CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce.org)
• Volunteer management tools
• Accounting software for nonprofit compliance

How to Choose the Right Business Partner

Real-World Example: Auction + Local Sponsorship + Matching Gifts

A local PTO partners with CharityAuctions to run an online auction. Local restaurants sponsor prize packages. Employees at a partner company use matching gifts.

According to CharityAuctions.com platform data, events that combine auction software, local sponsors, and matching gifts raise an average of 42% more than single-partner approaches with less administrative work.

Takeaway: The best results come from combining multiple business partnerships strategically.

Glossary of Common Business Fundraising Models

• Corporate Matching Gifts: Companies match employee donations
• Sponsorships: Businesses provide funding or goods/services for exposure
• Cause Marketing: Brands donate based on product sales or promotions
• Platform Partners: Tech providers that enable digital fundraising
• Workplace Giving: Donations deducted from employee paychecks
• Product Fundraising: Donors purchase products with a portion supporting a cause

Final Thoughts: Build Partnerships That Amplify Your Mission

The most successful fundraisers do not work alone. They build networks of aligned businesses that support their mission with tools, funding, visibility, and trust.

Whether it is a small local café sponsoring a raffle prize or a global brand running a cause marketing campaign, business partnerships expand your impact.

Choose one partner in each category: platform, local sponsor, matching gift, and marketing, and create a fundraising ecosystem that works 24/7.

Create your auction or talk to our team to get started. See charity auction promotion for a full promotion calendar. See risk-free auction items for items with no upfront cost.

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This guide is maintained by CharityAuctions. For fundraising partnership resources, see silent auction software and how to run a charity auction. Questions? Talk to our team.