5 Common Partnership Pitches That Put Nonprofits at Risk
- CYBERRISKED℠
- May 31
- 3 min read
How to spot red flags before they compromise your mission or your donors' trust
Not every offer to "help your nonprofit" is truly helpful. In today’s connected world, nonprofits are frequently approached by consultants, tech vendors, and fundraisers who promise new revenue streams, cost savings, or promotional benefits. While some partnerships are legitimate and aligned with your mission, others are vague, manipulative, or even deceptive.
As a nonprofit leader, you have a duty to protect not just your funds and data, but also your reputation and relationships — especially with donors, board members, and the communities you serve.
Here are five common types of pitches that raise red flags, and what to watch for:
The "Affiliate Partnership" Pitch
What it sounds like:
“We’ll give your nonprofit a commission if you promote our insurance plan / financial tool / app to your audience.”
What’s the issue: Affiliate deals are rarely mission-first. These programs can turn your nonprofit into a sales channel, distracting from your work and potentially undermining your integrity if the product underdelivers.
Red flags:
Emphasis on commission, not impact
Unclear product value or audience fit
No alignment with your core mission
Key risk: Reputational damage and alienation of your donor or client base.
The "Residual Income Through Introductions" Pitch
What it sounds like:
“We help nonprofits earn a steady stream of residual income by introducing us to their corporate donors or contacts.”
What’s the issue: This pitch positions your organization as a middleman in someone else’s sales process. Often, it’s unclear what the donor is being introduced to, or what business the consultant is in. You risk commodifying your donor relationships in exchange for a vague promise of income.
Red flags:
Emphasis on "introductions" without explaining the underlying business
Unclear what the donor is agreeing to
Talk of residuals or referral fees without transparency
Key risk: Loss of donor trust, reputational damage, and misalignment with your ethical fundraising standards.
The "Crypto Donation Platform"
What it sounds like:
“We make it easy for your nonprofit to accept Bitcoin and other crypto donations with zero fees!”
What’s the issue: While crypto philanthropy is real, many third-party platforms are either unstable, unregulated, or operate with unclear terms. Some may capture sensitive donor information or expose your org to financial volatility.
Red flags:
No known custodian or crypto exchange partner
Vague or missing terms of service
Pressure to integrate quickly
Key risk: Compliance, reputational risk, and donor privacy issues.
The "Free Software for Exposure" Deal
What it sounds like:
“We’ll give you our premium tools at no cost if we can feature your logo or testimonial in our next campaign.”
What’s the issue: This often seems like a win-win, but it can come with strings. You may be asked to endorse a product publicly before testing it, or to serve as a case study for tools you didn’t vet thoroughly.
Red flags:
Conditional "free" tools in exchange for public exposure
Pressure to provide quotes or endorsements
Lack of clear opt-out options
Key risk: Being used as marketing collateral for a product that may not be mission-aligned or ready for prime time.
The "Free Security Audit" That’s Really a Sales Funnel
What it sounds like:
“We offer free cybersecurity checkups for nonprofits. We’ll assess your systems and tell you where you’re vulnerable.”
What’s the issue: While proactive security assessments are essential, some free offers are thinly disguised sales tactics. These firms may lack credentials or use fear to upsell you on overpriced products. In some cases, they may ask for full administrative access to your systems.
Red flags:
No clear credentials or experience with nonprofits
Reluctance to provide findings in writing
Pushy sales follow-ups
Request to gain any kind of access to your systems or data
Key risk: Fear-based selling, data harvesting, and misallocation of limited cybersecurity funds.
Our Final Thoughts
Not all partnership offers are bad — but the best ones are transparent, mission-aligned, and built on trust.
Before saying yes to any deal, ask:
Does this help us serve our mission, and if so, how exactly?
Is it clear, ethical, lawful, and aligned with our values?
Would I feel comfortable explaining this to our board or directors, big funders, and small donors?
When in doubt, press pause. The safest nonprofits are the ones who take ample time to fully vet opportunities, not just react to them.
At CYBERRISKED℠, we believe cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls — it’s about protecting the trust you’ve built. If your nonprofit has questions about safe digital practices, donor data protection, or how to evaluate third-party offers, consult a trusted advisor or email us at support@cyberrisked.com. You're not alone.
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