Sk153: Don’t be a Scrooge or a sucker 🫣

I treat donation requests exactly like prospects, leads, and influencers.

Same process. Same filter. Same response.

Got this message yesterday: "We're collecting for our team's Tricky Tray. Last year you donated gift cards. Can you do it again? It was the most popular basket."

Here's what I sent back:

"Great to hear you're interested! I am a major fan of my clients and their businesses and fundraising initiatives. Did one of our amazing clients suggest we'd sponsor? If not, that's fine. You can be that awesome client who gets support of our donations."

**The brutal truth about business donations:**

Most businesses write checks to feel good. Then are resentful when it's not appreciated.

We write checks to strengthen relationships.

Most businesses donate to anyone who asks, or to no one because they don't get an ROI.

We donate to causes our clients care about.

Most businesses see it as charity, or a waste of funds and energy.

We see it as community investment.

**Here's our donation filter:**

Are you a client? → Yes, let's talk

Did a client advocate for you? → Yes, let's talk

Neither? → Become a client first

Same exact filter for:

• Influencer partnerships

• Agency collaborations

• Speaking opportunities

• Strategic alliances

**Why this works:**

When clients advocate for causes, they're invested.

When they're invested, they share the sponsorship.

When they share, everyone wins.

Last year's cheer donation? A couple clients' kids are on the team. They posted about our sponsorship. Three parents became clients. The ROI wasn't the tax write-off. It was the advocacy.

**The sponsorship math nobody talks about:**

Random donation = Feel-good moment

Client-connected donation = Relationship multiplier

Client advocacy donation = Community growth engine

No process = Resentment

We sponsored BRHS Cheerleading's Executive Power Hour because multiple clients have daughters on the team. They didn't just thank us. They brought their friends to experience what we do.

That's not donation. That's multiplication.

Most businesses have a donation budget.

We have an advocacy investment strategy.

Most write checks and forget.

We strengthen bonds that compound.

What filter do you use for your business generosity?

https://cryocontouringstudio.com/grow/

#CommunityInvestment #BusinessStrategy #RelationshipMarketing #MedSpaGrowth

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