What the Real Talk Session 1 Revealed About Corporate Giving in Chicago
Key takeaways and what it all means for nonprofit leaders
Our first Real Talk session, “Let’s Get Awkward, Then Get Aligned,” brought nonprofit, corporate, and philanthropic leaders together for an honest conversation about partnership — and one thing was clear: organizations across sectors are rethinking how they work together.
One insight surfaced early and often: corporations are under increasing scrutiny, and social impact teams are becoming more central to business strategy. For nonprofit leaders, this shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity.
According to the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP), corporate social impact teams are gaining visibility and influence within their companies, with growing expectations to demonstrate measurable impact, align with business priorities, and respond to social issues with authenticity and accountability.
“Corporate social impact functions are gaining visibility, engagement, and influence as expectations grow for companies to demonstrate meaningful community impact.” — ACCP Social Impact Survey
In other words, corporate giving isn’t disappearing — it’s evolving.
What the Data Is Telling Us
Recent CSR trends point to a few clear priorities:
Strategic influence is growing — social impact teams are more integrated into business decision-making.
Authenticity matters — companies are expected to demonstrate meaningful commitments to equity and community impact.
Impact must be measurable — partners are expected to show clear outcomes.
Employee engagement remains key — volunteerism and purpose-driven engagement continue to matter.
Alignment drives partnerships — companies prioritize work connected to their values, workforce, and community footprint.
These shifts were echoed during Real Talk, reinforcing that nonprofits who understand these priorities will be better positioned to build meaningful corporate relationships.
What This Means for Nonprofit Leaders
Corporate partnerships today are less transactional and more strategic. This requires nonprofits to shift from sponsorship requests to mission-aligned partnerships.
Here are practical ways nonprofit leaders can adapt:
Connect Your Mission to Shared Value - Show how your work intersects with a company’s workforce, community footprint, and priorities.
Lead With Impact - Move beyond activities. Share measurable outcomes and stories that demonstrate change.
Offer Employee Engagement Opportunities - Consider skills-based volunteering, service days, mentoring, or leadership engagement.
Demonstrate Authentic Community Connection - Highlight trust, lived experience leadership, and long-term community relationships.
Build Relationships, Not One-Time Sponsorships - Focus on multi-year partnerships and shared goals.
Turning Insight Into Opportunity
Understanding CSR trends helps nonprofit leaders position their work in ways that resonate with today’s corporate partners. This requires strong storytelling and intentional relationship-building.
At CVNC, we support organizations in strengthening fundraising strategy, partnership messaging, and communications so they can build sustainable connections that carry their work forward.
As we continue the Real Talk series, we look forward to exploring how transparency, shared learning, and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen partnerships and the communities they serve.
P.S. Interested in learning more about the Real Talk series and upcoming sessions? Check out the Real Talk website: https://www.realtalkchi.org
