Dovetail Advisers
Where purpose and partnership fit perfectly.
We work at the intersection of mission and corporate alignment, helping nonprofits build corporate sponsorship programs that advance their cause and deliver measurable impact.
Our Approach
At Dovetail Advisers, we believe strong partnerships are built on clarity, alignment, and fit. We help nonprofits translate their mission and programs into compelling sponsorship opportunities, giving them the strategy, tools, and confidence to approach corporate partners with purpose and ease.
Corporate sponsors aren’t the same as donors, and the difference matters.
Successful corporate sponsorships require a distinct mindset and a different set of tools from traditional fundraising. At Dovetail Advisers, we help nonprofits understand and navigate that difference to develop sponsorship offers that deliver real value to brands without jeopardizing your organization’s tax-exempt status.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to overhaul your current sponsorship program, we’ll start with the heart of your organization: the mission.
Who is your audience? What programs create impact? What goals drive your work?
From there, we develop a tailored strategy that defines your sponsorship program’s value proposition, pricing, and positioning, all aligned with your mission and the IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines.
Next, we identify industries and companies whose purpose and priorities align with yours. Together, we craft partnership concepts that go beyond logo placement, emphasizing storytelling, community engagement, and measurable impact.
Whether we’re providing hands-on guidance or equipping your team with ready-to-use tools, Dovetail ensure every partnership is effective and built to fit.
Our goal is to advance your mission while delivering genuine value to your corporate sponsors.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a corporate sponsor and a donor?
Corporate sponsors are marketing or community-investment partners, not donors. While donors give to support your mission philanthropically, sponsors provide funding or in-kind support in exchange for recognition, visibility, or engagement opportunities. Understanding this distinction is essential, as it affects how you structure partnerships and stay compliant with IRS 501(c)(3) rules.
Why does compliance matter in corporate sponsorships?
Under IRS guidelines, nonprofits must ensure that sponsorship benefits don’t cross into “advertising.” If a corporate partner receives excessive promotional benefits, such as like pricing language, endorsements, or sales incentives, the income may be considered “unrelated business income” (UBI)" and taxed.
Dovetail Advisers helps you design compliant sponsorship packages that maximize value while protecting your organization’s tax-exempt status.
What’s the typical investment?
Let’s explore what works for your organization, and we’ll tailor the scope and budget accordingly. More details and information on the typical investment can be found on my services page.
What types of nonprofits do you work with?
We work with mission-driven organizations of all sizes, from local nonprofits launching their first sponsorship program to national organizations looking to revitalize and expand their existing partnerships.
How do you find or secure sponsors?
Our core service focuses on strategy, structure, and readiness to help your team confidently approach corporate partners. However, we also offer add-on services for prospect identification, pitch development, and tailored outreach strategies when you’re ready to connect directly with potential sponsors.
How long does the consulting process take?
Most strategy engagements last 3–5 weeks, depending on your organization’s size and complexity. Add-ons like prospect lists, proposal development, or activation planning can extend the timeline slightly. There are additional options, such as having us on retainer for ongoing management if you don’t have an in-house marketing team.
What makes Dovetail Advisers different?
We bring a unique blend of nonprofit experience and sponsorship expertise, understanding both the mission and marketing sides of partnership. Having helped organizations gain 501(c)(3) status, our knowledge of IRS compliance is a key asset to our approach. We have extensive grant management experience as well, which has elevated our ability to understand get to the root of what brands value and tell a story that gets them excited about investing.
Meet the Founder
Katherine Dickhut
Founder
I’m Katherine Dickhut, and I am delighted to introduce myself as the Founder (and sole member) of Dovetail Advisers. When you hire Dovetail Advisers for your nonprofit corporate sponsorship needs, you will be working directly with me from start to finish.
I am entering the corporate sponsorship consulting world with years of nonprofit grant management under my belt. This experience gives me a unique perspective on connecting organizations with corporate sponsors because I have firsthand experience with relationship management, storytelling, data analysis, multi-stakeholder coordination, and strategic planning through the nonprofit lens.
I don’t have a magic bullet to guarantee you immediate corporate sponsorship success (no one does!), but I can guarantee that I can guide you every step of the way with confidence and approachability.
Let’s work together!