How Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger finds corporate sponsors for its fundraising events
April 3, 2017 Category: Feature, Featured, Funding, ShortPhiladelphia was ranked the least-healthy county in the state this year, and food security and quality played some parts in that.
It’s why the efforts of local organizations and nonprofits fighting against hunger, such as the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger (GPCAH), need to continue being supported as much as possible. A chance to help is coming up April 8 with the coalition’s biggest event of the year, the annual Walk Against Hunger.
Join us & our friends @GPCAHunger to walk against hunger. #HungerSucks #RightToFood #FoodForAll https://t.co/V74tVgwmdH
— Philabundance (@Philabundance) March 29, 2017
Now in its 21st year, the event is a time where people come together to walk and raise money for more than 100 food pantries, soup kitchens and hunger relief groups in the area. Last year, the walk raised almost $210,000.
Visit this page for more info on how to take part in the event.
The walk is also a time for participants to have some fun while raising money and bringing awareness to an important issue (‘cause that’s important), and this will be the first year the event is taking place at Lincoln Financial Field. GPCAH is able to make all this possible mainly because of the major contributions from corporate sponsors — including Horsham-based bread company Thomas’, the event’s headlining sponsor (which also sponsored GPCAH’s Nourishing Neighbors campaign this past fall).
As Laura Wall, executive director of GPCAH, explained in an email, nonprofits in general are tackling huge social issues while often being severely understaffed with limited resources. So, she recommends nonprofits that want to work with corporate sponsors to think outside the box.
This year, more than ever, we need your support. Join @thefoodtrust in the 2017 Walk Against Hunger! https://t.co/L0IKEvLToQ pic.twitter.com/CRC5JYg3Dj
— The Food Trust (@thefoodtrust) March 27, 2017
“My advice to a nonprofit that wants to partner with a corporation is to look for companies that not just have a similar mission (food companies sponsoring anti-hunger work, for instance) but for companies with corporate cultures that align with what you do,” Wall wrote in an email.
“There may be corporate partners that don’t directly work in your field but may care deeply about the issue your organization addresses. Some food banks for instance have successful relationships with car dealerships. It’s because the dealerships are deeply rooted in the local community and care about their neighbors who are hungry.”