Newsletter: Ditch the Deck and Try a Just-in-Time Pitch Instead ⏱️; The Real Reason Your Partnerships are Stuck in First Gear ⚙️ ; How Your Climate Will Feel in 60 Years 🥵
Guess what? In the age of AI and short attention spans, generic partnership decks are getting ignored.
The new standard? Short, punchy pitches so tailored they feel hand-delivered.
👉🏻 I call them 'just-in-time partnership pitches."
But you don’t need hours—or a research team—to make a prospect feel like the only one in your inbox.
Try this 3-question framework in your next email:
1. What does this company care about right now? Clues: CSR page, LinkedIn, news releases, annual reports
📌 Example: A regional bank has just announced the launch of a new financial literacy initiative for teens in underserved communities.
💡 If you’re a nonprofit like Junior Achievement or a local youth-serving org with money management programming, you immediately have a relevant connection.
2. How does my mission or audience help them reach a goal? Think: DEI, brand positioning, employee engagement, community trust
📌 Example: You’re a workforce development nonprofit helping women reenter the job market through skills training and career coaching. A large apparel retailer has public commitments to support women’s economic empowerment and promote inclusive hiring.
💡 Your mission helps them advance their external CSR goal (empowering women) while also creating potential pipelines for diverse talent—checking both community and business boxes. 🎯
3. What’s one reason they’d say “yes” to a conversation? This is your hook—what makes now the right time?
📌 Example: The company’s employees already volunteer locally with you. Or the CEO was just honored at a community event you attended. Or your organization has a campaign coming up tied to something they already care about (e.g., Earth Day, Back-to-School, Women’s History Month).
💡 This is your "in"—a warm door to open, even if it’s a cold pitch.
📩 Swipe Copy:
Hi [Name],
I noticed that [Company] has just launched its new initiative on [DEI/education/climate].
Our nonprofit, [Org Name], works directly with [audience], and we’ve helped partners like [Example Co.] reach similar goals through hands-on engagement and storytelling that resonates. I have a great case study I can share with you.
I’d love to explore how we can support your team’s mission—and give your employees or customers a direct line to make an impact.
Do you have 20 minutes next week? You can book a call using the link below, or simply send me a couple of dates and times that work for you.
Best, [Your Name]
Try this out for your next outreach and let me know how it works for you!
✍️ Partnership Notes
In my "Partnership Notes" section, I share stellar corporate partnership programs and show you how to do your job better!
1. Stellar Partnerships offers a sharp take on why your partnership program might be stuck in first gear—and what it will take to get it moving!
You don't know where to find the right partners.
You're not converting opportunities.
You're not growing existing opportunities.
You struggle to get internal support.
2. How to do cause marketing with car washes. 💦🚗
3. The companies that sponsored the White House Easter Egg Roll.
🤑 Marketing Your Cause
In my "Marketing Your Cause" section, I share strategies to grow your brand and audience—two key ingredients for securing more partnerships.
1. This article is a nice follow-up to my webinar two weeks ago with Rocketeer Melanie Newell. Why thought leadership matters and how to get it right.
2. Print newsletter vs Email newsletter. Which performs better?
3. Nonprofit brand-building advice from Lise Lozelle, communications and partner engagement lead at Best Buddies International.
😎 Cool Jobs in Cause
In my "Cool Jobs in Cause" section, I share open partnership positions so you can discover your next adventure.
1. Assistant Director, Corporate Partnerships, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
2. Associate Director, Business Development & Partnerships, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston
3. Associate, Corporate Partnerships, Citymeals on Wheels, NYC ($50k - $60k)
4. Senior Director, Strategic Alliances, First Book, Washington, DC
5. Senior Director of Partnership Stewardship, The V Foundation, (Cary, NC)
6. Partnerships Senior Associate, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Columbus, Ohio
🧠🍌 Brain Food
In my "Brain Food" section, I share things that spark inspiration, fuel curiosity, and bring a smile to your face!
1. What will my climate feel like in 60 years? According to this interactive map, Boston will feel like...Memphis, Tennessee? 🥵 What about your area?
2. Phil Haid and the team at Toronto-based Public Inc. have launched a new campaign that puts a fresh spin on the Battle Hymn of the Republic to highlight the deep bond between Canada and the U.S.
Bottom line: Hug a Canadian. I’m accepting hugs too—I’m half Canadian! 🇨🇦 🥰
3. Everyone's got their own action figure in ChatGPT—why not me?!
My three accessories on the right are the Statue of Liberty, an iconic charity pinup, and a laptop, of course!
Here's the prompt to use to make your own action figure, courtesy of the Superhuman AI Newsletter.
ChatGPT Prompt: [upload photo] Draw an action figure toy (of the person in this photo. The figure should be full figure and displayed in its original blister pack packaging. On top of the box is the name of the toy ["add name" with "headline"] across a single line of text. In the blister pack packaging, next to the figure show the toy's accessories including a - [add accessories]
