By: E. Jeff Serrano, CDE, CNC
This past week, I had the honor of delivering two customized training sessions for the entire Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Foundation and community, both built around my presentation, “Mastering the Art of Corporate Engagement.”
At the invitation of Karen K. Martin, MBA, CFRE, President and CEO of the TSTC Foundation, I led one session for the Development staff and Advancement Operations team, and a second for the Board of Directors and volunteers. Both sessions were grounded in the same core framework, but each was customized to reflect that audience’s distinct role in building and sustaining successful corporate partnerships.
Why Full-Circle Engagement Matters
I applaud Karen for understanding that successful corporate engagement requires a full-circle approach. Bringing both the Development team and the Board into the same conversation — intentionally, not as an afterthought — is key to meeting corporate fundraising objectives. And I was genuinely impressed by how enthusiastically the Board leadership embraced this training. At many nonprofits, that kind of buy-in is often a real challenge.
It’s a pattern I see often: staff are trained on corporate engagement, while board members are left to learn on the fly, or not at all. When that gap exists, even a strong Development team can struggle to translate corporate interest into a lasting partnership.
What Board Involvement Actually Looks Like
Board involvement does not mean every member needs to solicit gifts. It starts with something more foundational: understanding the corporate landscape, the challenges and timelines companies operate within, and how board members can support realistic expectations, informed decisions, and future fundraising strategy.
When staff, board members, and volunteers all share that same understanding, the entire organization is better positioned for success. Corporate partners notice the difference when an organization speaks with one voice, from the development office to the boardroom.
A Thank You to TSTC
A big, huge thank you to Karen, for the amazing opportunity, her trust, and her thoughtful partnership throughout this process. And thank you to the TSTC Development staff, Board, and volunteers for the very warm welcome, active participation, insightful questions, and genuine friendship. Sending all my best wishes to the team at Texas State Technical College and the TSTC Foundation.
The Takeaway
Meaningful corporate partnerships are rarely built overnight. They require strategy, patience, and authentic alignment between everyone representing the organization. Helping nonprofits develop that shared understanding — across staff and board alike — is at the heart of “Mastering the Art of Corporate Engagement” and my work guiding nonprofits toward full-circle corporate partnerships.
If your staff and board would benefit from a more strategic, unified approach to corporate engagement, let’s talk about bringing this customized training to your organization.
Photos: TSTC Development Team session; TSTC Foundation Board session