Date of Graduation

Fall 12-12-2025

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA)

College/School

School of Management

Department/Program

Management

First Advisor

Dr. Marco Tavanti

Abstract

As nonprofits seek to financially sustain their permanent client-serving programs and staff positions, the ability to engage financial sponsors adds predictability and assurance that these programs and positions can exist into the future. At times these sponsorships allow for governance improvements or service innovations that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.

Recruiting sponsors beyond a single event requires strategies different from (for example) prize donations to a gala, or a one-day event “tiered” sponsorship offering, and sometimes different from most grant applications. To achieve funding of ongoing programs and positions over multiple budget cycles, a deeper relationship must be cultivated by the nonprofit, one that is strongly aligned with mission and one that requires close ties with the sponsor – ethically, financially, and perhaps to the point of partnering on strategy and programming itself – on the expectation of a permanent or semi-permanent basis.

This study incorporates findings from a current, ongoing fundraising project at a nonprofit in San Francisco which seeks to fund both a client-serving program and a critical staff position. The author is a participant in this project, as its Project Manager (as requested by the nonprofit). The methods used in this project are cited here. As well, best practices and field research of recent years as found in the literature puts perspective here as to where the nonprofit sector may best succeed in securing sponsorships as described.

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