(CEO) Guide

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Corporate Engagement Opportunity

A GUIDE FOR CLUBS TO ENGAGE LOCAL BUSINESSES Soroptimist programs effect fundamental change for women and girls through economic and social empowerment. The donations sent to the federation support Soroptimist programs—such as the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards—that help women to pursue their dreams.

Improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

There are many ways Soroptimist clubs can financially help support SIA programs—charity auctions, Live Your Dream fundraising events, club giving, Founders Pennies, etc. Another avenue that many clubs currently take advantage of is soliciting donations from local businesses. Now, clubs can extend that relationship by offering companies the Corporate Engagement Opportunity (CEO). The Corporate Engagement Opportunity offers rewards in both membership AND fundraising. Clubs can invite local corporations or businesses to give back to the community through the well-organized systems and structures of Soroptimist—not only with their financial donations, but also by inviting employees to become members of the club. This guide will assist clubs with the process for offering a Corporate Engagement Opportunity to local businesses in order to spread the mission, secure new members, and provide financial contributions to both clubs and SIA.

© Soroptimist International of the Americas

Corporate Engagement Opportunity (CEO) Guide

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1. Check 501(c)(3) status. Determine if your club is established and registered as a 501(c)(3) within the state (U.S. only). If not or if you have questions, contact SIA at [email protected]. 2. Brainstorm and list area companies. Use contacts members may already have, along with those of their partners, spouses, and friends. Consider approaching the local chamber of commerce or other business association for contacts. Don’t hesitate to contact large and small companies. Scan local newspapers to see what businesses are partnering with other non-profits.

8 Steps To A Successful Partnership For many businesses, reaching out to the community from which they draw their customers and employees is just as important as running an efficient office and making a profit. Theses eight steps can assist clubs with identifying potential CEOs and what steps to take in order to build a successful partnership.

3. Determine the donation amount to request and benefits the club can offer. The club should take into account the dues and fees of a Soroptimist membership as well as an additional donation to the club when determining the donation request from the CEO. The Frequently Asked Questions in this guide provide more details to assist your club in determining the amount. When determining the benefits the club can offer to the business, be creative—their logo on your website, discounted or free advertising in your newsletter, etc. 4. Send an introduction letter to the business(es). Address the letter to the company’s president, human resource director, community outreach coordinator, or other appropriate contact (See Sample Introduction Letter). 5. Follow-up and meet. Follow-up with a phone call after a week or two if there is no response. Ask to set up a brief meeting to bring an information packet (See Checklist for Information Packet) and discuss the opportunity. At the meeting, give a brief overview of Soroptimist and some of the club’s highlights. Explain the benefits of the CEO to the company and be prepared to answer any questions. 6. Establish the Corporate Engagement Opportunity. • Use the Sample Agreement as a template to create a simple contract to state what is expected from each party. • Obtain the donation from the business. • Determine who within the company will benefit from the Soroptimist membership(s) and then process that employee as a regular member(s) by completing SIA Form 5008. Deduct and remit club, region, and SIA/SI dues as appropriate from the CEO’s donation. Deduct and remit any other club fees from the CEO’s donation. • Use the remainder of the donation toward the Soroptimist mission to fund womenand girl-focused projects at the club level and/or by donating a portion to SIA. • Complete club-level administrative responsibilities in order to fulfill CEO benefits (adding business to club website, to club mailings, etc.). 7. Acknowledge and say thank you. Work with the CEO business to send out a press release announcing the partnership (See Sample Press Release). Send a thank-you letter to the CEO business (See Sample ThankYou Letter). Include a thank you in the club’s newsletter and website. Invite all CEO business employees to participate in appropriate volunteer activities. The club may also provide a small Soroptimist “thank you” gift, such as a Soroptimist tote bag with logo items available from headquarters’ Soroptimist store. 8. Fulfill the agreement and prosper! The employee of the CEO business should be considered a regular member, be involved in the club, and treated like any other member. Stewardship and recognition opportunities to the CEO should be provided whenever possible.

© Soroptimist International of the Americas

Corporate Engagement Opportunity (CEO) Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions How does the Soroptimist Club benefit from the CEO strategy?

How long is the organization’s CEO partnership and the designated employee membership?



Increases club members based on donation made by CEO business.



Donations from CEO business provides additional funds for women- and girl-focused projects.



Creates public awareness by approaching businesses about Soroptimist.



Gains “extra hands” for projects and increases potential member pool by inviting all CEO business employees to participate in appropriate volunteer activities.



The dues, fees, etc. for the member(s) designated by the CEO business are paid in full, upfront by the CEO business.

Because the donation is tied to membership, the length of the CEO partnership is determined by the end of the club year. For example, if a business takes advantage of the CEO in September, the partnership (and membership for the employee) is from September to June 30. If the relationship is established in February, the partnership (and membership for the employee) is from February to June 30. Dues and fees should be calculated accordingly. Clubs are encouraged to ask the CEO business for a renewal of their donation on a yearly basis.



CEO business can be approached for renewal on an annual basis, with encouragement to increase donation (and the number of members it can designate by the level of that donation).



Increases pool of potential members by encouraging member(s) designated by the CEO business to invite their friends to get involved with the club.

What are the benefits for companies and businesses that partner with a Soroptimist club? •

Supports an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in the local community and throughout the world.



Will increase awareness of the corporation and networking opportunities within the community through association with the club and its mission to help women and girls.



Provides membership as a benefit to employee(s).



When CEO organizations’ employees are invited to participate in hands-on club projects, it will build morale, encourage teamwork among employees outside of the office, as well as creating a deeper sense of self, and help employees become more aware of the community at large.



Club-level benefits (to be determined by the club) such as: reduced advertising rate in club newsletter; discounted tickets to fundraising events; gift subscription to Best for Women magazine; periodic emails from Soroptimist club, etc.).

© Soroptimist International of the Americas

What if additional employees from the CEO business— those who have not been designated as members per the agreement—start to attend club meetings, events, etc.? It should be made clear that only the employee(s) designated by the CEO business has membership privileges. If members are able to bring guests to a meeting, that should be allowed. The club should invite all the CEO business employees to appropriate events and make clear any expectations, dress codes, costs, etc. For example, if the event is painting a domestic violence shelter, the club can ask for volunteers from the CEO business to help out by coming prepared to paint, move furniture, etc. If the event is a black-tie fundraising dinner, the club can invite employees of the CEO to attend, etc.

Are there any resources to help clubs with implementing the CEO strategy? Several resources exist to assist in efforts to make this partnership a success. These documents are available on the Corporate Engagement Opportunity Resource webpage: •

Checklist for Information Packet



Sample Introduction Letter



Corporate Engagement Opportunity Benefits



SIA Frequently Asked Questions



Sample Press Release



Sample Agreement



Sample Thank-You Letter

Corporate Engagement Opportunity (CEO) Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions continued How does the club determine the donation amount for the CEO business? Clubs should determine a suitable amount for the CEO donation by taking into account the dues for the club, region, SIA, and SI. Also included should be any other fees the club may have for members. Because this strategy also serves as a fundraiser for both the clubs and SIA, please ensure sufficient funds remain for this purpose once the other fees have been considered. The amount of the donation should be determined by taking into account: • Club dues and fees • Region dues and fees • SIA/SI dues and fees (use the Form 5008 as a guide) • The size and financial resources of the targeted business For example, SI of Anytown has identified a small, family owned business and determines the first level of donation amount as follows: $50 Club dues and fees $25 Region dues and fees $72 SIA/SI dues and fees $150 Donation amount from the CEO business $297 Total Using the above example, the club can round the amount up to ask the CEO business for a $300 donation for all the CEO benefits and one membership. The next level of donation (which would add an additional member) can be determined by using the above formula but doubling the club, region, SIA and SI dues and fees: $100 Club dues and fees for 2 members $50 Region dues and fees for 2 members $144 SIA/SI dues and fees for 2 members $150 Donation amount from the CEO business $444 Total Using the above example, the club can round the amount up to ask the business to be involved with the CEO for a $450 donation for all the CEO benefits and two memberships. The same formula can be used to add additional members. Keep in mind, the CEO business receives all the same benefits at each level; however, each higher level determines the number of employees it can designate for membership. Note: For businesses and corporations with greater resources, the club should ask for a larger donation, as these businesses routinely set aside sums of money for community outreach.

THANK YOU! We have learned through surveys and introduction forms that the main reason women want to be involved with Soroptimist is to have a hands-on opportunity to be involved with the mission. The CEO partnership provides that experience, while also serving as a fundraiser and a public relations opportunity for both the club and the business/corporation. As members, you know the importance of extending the Soroptimist mission and the personal benefits of joining with other women and working toward a common goal. Thank you for exploring this recruitment strategy, which has potential for membership building by serving as a direct entree into the business community, of which Soroptimist members themselves belong. Please contact [email protected] with any questions or comments regarding the Corporate Engagement Opportunity.

Don’t forget! Check out the CEO webpage for several helpful sample resources.

http://www.soroptimist.org/members/membership/ceo.html

© Soroptimist International of the Americas

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