The workshop was facilitated by Jonas Dinger, Managing Director of Social Impact Award. Drawing on his practical fundraising experience with public, philanthropic, and corporate partners, he shared lessons from building corporate partnerships and raising more than €1.6 million from corporate partners since 2021.
The event responded to a common challenge faced by many civil society organisations. Public and philanthropic funding is becoming more competitive, yet many organisations still lack structured knowledge on how to approach companies and build sustainable corporate partnerships. The workshop addressed this gap by guiding participants through the full fundraising process, from identifying suitable companies and understanding their priorities to preparing conversations, developing pitches, handling difficult questions, negotiating, and maintaining relationships over time.
A central message of the workshop was that fundraising is not simply about asking for money. It is an exchange of value. Participants were encouraged to move away from presenting only their financial needs and instead explain what value their work could create for a corporate partner. This required them to think more clearly about the problems they address, the strengths of their organisations, and the reasons why a specific company should care.
The workshop combined short inputs with practical exercises, peer feedback, group discussions, and simulated fundraising conversations. Participants worked on real cases from their own organisations, tested their ideas, and received feedback from others facing similar challenges. This practical approach helped them turn general fundraising principles into concrete next steps.
Peer learning was one of the strongest elements of the event. Participants compared how different organisations approach fundraising, discussed what works in their countries and sectors, and reflected on shared challenges. The exchange allowed them to learn not only from the facilitator, but also from the experience of other civil society organisations across the region.
The event showed that corporate fundraising skills are built through practice, exchange, and reflection. By working on real cases and learning from peers, participants left with clearer priorities, stronger pitches, and concrete actions to test in their organisations.
