Holiday philanthropy guides may not be in non-profits’ interests

Blogs are awesome tools for wondering “out loud”.  Last week I was working on a non-profit’s marketing and communications plan and realized they were putting time and energy into lining up businesses to sponsor listings in printed philanthropy guides.  Did they have a positive ROI, I wondered?

Not for most non-profits.  It could even hurt them by diminishing the amount of dollars available for direct contributions from potential corporate sponsors.

How so?  Here in Sacramento, we don’t have a lot of corporate headquarters.  We do have a large number of businesses that are regional operations of national companies.  When they underwrite a listing in a philanthropy guide, they take the money out of their contributions budget, not their advertising budget.  The amount of available money in their budget goes down.

When non-profits approach them for direct contributions or to sponsor events that may result in friendraising or fundraising, the businesses may figure they’ve already done their bit for that organization.  Or they may not have the money left to spend.

It may be good for the business’ reputation to be seen as a community good guy, but better use can be made of the money for the non-profit.  Several non-profits say they have received a donation or two based on the info published in the guide, but they might have gotten a better return if they had worked directly with the business.

P.D.  My Twitter pals were uninterested in my query, but I did get a few responses from friends in the non-profit world whose perspective I value.  I didn’t quote or name them here in case on the off-chance that local publishers wouldn’t take kindly to their skeptical view of these guides.

Do holiday philanthropy guides have a positive ROI for non-profits?

Comstock's "Capital Region Cares" spread on River Oak Center for Children

I need your help.  I need to hear from you about whether non-profits you’re associated with have received donations attributable to holiday philanthropic guides published by newspapers and magazines.

I’m confident that individuals receive donations when their stories are published in such guides, but I’m less sure about how organizations fare.  There’s a cost to be included in most of them, and community-oriented businesses often pick up the tab.  But is it worth it?  In terms of donations?  Or reputation enhancement?

Here in Sacramento, I know of at least three holiday philanthropy guides:  the Sacramento Bee’s “Greatest Need” section, The Sacramento Business Journal’s “Partners in Philanthropy”, and Comstock Magazine’s “Capital (sic) Region Cares”.

I’m working on two comprehensive marketing/fund development plans right now.  Every penny has to count, now more than ever, so I need to know if there’s a return from these investments.  What do you think?