Building Stronger Communities: LifeCare Alliance


Working together: LifeCare Alliance marries the needs of for-profits with its own

LifeCare Alliance would not be able to serve its 15,000 active clients without support from the corporate community — companies big and small deliver Meals-on-Wheels, work in its dining centers, deliver pet care, assist with numerous volunteer opportunities, and purchase catering and wellness services.

President and CEO Charles Gehring says he always hears how much corporate associates enjoy working with LifeCare’s clients, which in turn makes them appreciate their employer. However, building relationships between for-profit and nonprofits needs to go both ways.

Smart Business spoke with Gehring about how corporate partnerships are critical to LifeCare and its clients, and vise versa.

SB: How do strong relationships with for-profit companies help nonprofits like LifeCare Alliance?

CG: An association with a well-known company lends the “seal of approval” to what the nonprofit does and is. This association is critical to how LifeCare and its services are viewed by the community. Companies employ people who can be volunteers. LifeCare has more than 90 companies who “Adopt-a-Route,” which means they allow employees to deliver Meals-on-Wheels on a daily basis. This saves the cost of a paid driver, about $12,000 per route, per year.

Companies also provide subject matter experts to assist with numerous projects. For example, our IT committee has only two board members. The rest are volunteers who are experts in information technology. They provide the knowledge we lack as a not-for-profit with a small staff. This is an area not-for-profits do not use enough.

Perhaps most importantly, the relationship must go both ways. We must provide a benefit to the for-profit partner. That might include employee recruitment and retention programs, like our Adopt-a-Route program, ways to assist their community without large financial commitments, programming for their employees, programs which address the concerns of their employees, co-marketing efforts and others.

SB: What challenges have you faced when building these relationships?

CG: Often, for-profits feel we only want to meet with them in order to ask for money. Actually, LifeCare generally wants to provide them with something. Money is nice, but for-profit companies can do many other things.

I view our company partners as guardian angels. A for-profit will watch over us closely because they know they are assisting our community. For example, we purchase sandwich buns and dinner rolls for our Meals-on-Wheels from White Castle, one of our best community partners. While we pay retail price, White Castle insures we get outstanding products and services, while knowing their products are being consumed by, and benefitting, those most in need.

SB: What have you learned about how to better create these relationships?

CG: Start slow, and determine what the for-profit company wants and needs. Often, not-for-profits only tell a company what they need.

Instead, take the time to listen and ask questions of potential for-profit partners. What are their priorities for their business and community, and where are their associates’ interests? In this way, we can better match what we do to their needs, and most likely provide them with a service or program of interest.

In 2014, we need to create a strong ‘win-win,’ not a one-sided relationship.

SB: How would you advise nonprofits to create long-term ties with corporate America? Or, on the flip side, how can for-profit companies create stronger links to worthy causes?

CG: The relationship has to go both ways. And, I cannot stress enough that not-for-profits must listen to the priorities of the for-profit. Many not-for-profits continue to only ask for-profit partners for money.

It is critical to develop other partnership opportunities. As another example, LifeCare operates L.A. Catering as a social entrepreneurship venture, which helps generate revenue to serve more clients. A company could buy catering from us if it were going to purchase catering for an event anyway. It provides a social and community aspect to the event, and I guarantee the associates appreciate that community care.

These types of partnerships between for-profits and not-for-profits develop deeply, and on multiple levels, with both gaining tremendous knowledge about each other. Much like a marriage, isn’t it? Also, like a marriage, we need to make our work together fun.

How to reach: LifeCare Alliance, (614) 278-3130 or www.lifecarealliance.org

Learn more about LifeCare Alliance at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LifeCareAlliance
Twitter: @LifeCareAllianc