You may think the first step in building a corporate relations program is prospecting and calling businesses. But what about truly understanding the problem that you are solving, and the community that you serve? Creating effective corporate relationships is more than just a financial transaction. Many corporations seek to build holistic relationships with nonprofits to pursue social change. Tammy Charles, a self-proclaimed "social change geek" (love that!) is on a mission to help nonprofits initiate, develop, and sustain their corporate relationships by producing strategic alliances that not only drive revenue but innovation and social impact.  She has raised over $10 million in financial and nonfinancial capital in her career in nonprofit and consulting through building cross-sector partnerships, creating innovative business models, and helping organizations develop and craft clear strategies and goals. Here are some of the topics we discussed:Ways in which you can build authentic relationships with the people and communities that you serveHow to position your organization for major corporate investments and partnershipsHow to start building your corporate relations strategy Why nonprofits have to pivot away from events and galas into more innovative strategiesA Tammy quotable:  "Be willing to build relationships with the people that you're serving, Build authentic relationships. Have coffee with these amazing people. Take the time to get to know them and their stories. And when you do, you'll realize that the the solutions lie within them."Connect with Tammy: https://twitter.com/tamcharliehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tammycharles/https://www.instagram.com/tammcharlie/Website: www.iamtammy.comDo me a favor? Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts (or your podcast player of choice) - it helps this podcast get seen by more people that would enjoy it!About Julia Campbell, the host of the Nonprofit Nation podcast:Named as a top thought leader by Forbes and BizTech Magazine, Julia Campbell (she/hers) is an author, coach, and speaker on a mission to make the digital world a better place.She wrote her book, Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits, as a roadmap for social change agents who want to build movements using engaging digital storytelling techniques. Her second book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit, was published in 2020 as a call-to-arms for mission-driven organizations to use the power of social media to build movements. Julia’s online courses, webinars, and talks have helped hundreds of nonprofits make the shift to digital thinking and raise more money online. Clients include Mastercard, Facebook, GoFundMe Charity, Meals on Wheels America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.