Beyond Checks & Halos

2025 GOODY BUSINESS BOOK AWARD WINNER IN BUSINESS - PHILANTHROPY

"Whether you work in the non-profit or the commercial space, the perspectives in this book provide a practical roadmap for building extraordinary partnerships . . . a must-read for all executives working in the partnership arena." - Vicki Escarra, former CMO, Delta Air Lines, and former CEO, Feeding America

We think we know how this works: Nonprofits solicit support from corporate partners and expect them to pony up checks. In turn, the company benefits from its glowing halo of generosity, right? 

In Beyond Checks & Halos, Cynthia Currence debunks this limiting mindset and showcases how partner relationships can extend well beyond obvious exchanges of value. Drawing on her decades of experience and her interviews with other high-level partnership experts, she weaves stories, checklists, and insights to break down the "secret sauce" of partner motivation, proportional value, strategic communication, team management, courageous pivots, and more.

Through her anecdotes, learn how a cereal box generated over $1.5 million for the American Cancer Society and how a relatively small nonprofit helped Sam's Club convert tons of potential food waste into huge savings. 

Not all partner prospects offer a perfect fit, though, so Currence teaches you how to define clear criteria, utilize pilot testing, and decide when to walk away. She prioritizes bottom-line business considerations and elevates the soft skills of relationship building to produce mission-aligned partnerships that can positively change the world. Currence believes the world desperately needs more transformative partnerships, and these insights will prove indispensable for those who agree.

"What excites me about this book is the way Cynthia dives deep into the importance of connections in the workplace and beyond. She gives us actionable to-dos and a fresh perspective that will transform the way we see partnerships in our world." - Hala Moddelmog, former President & CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and present President & CEO, Woodruff Arts Center

Interviewed experts include: Ed Baker, Ken Bernhardt, Carol Cone, Ann Cramer, Kathleen Dunlop, Vicki Escarra, Daryl Evans, Karen Flanders, Dick Greenly, John Hancock, Steve Hellen, Jo Ann Herold, David Hessekiel, Bob Hope, Rachel Hutchinson, Tad Hutcheson, Farhan Irshad, Glen Jackson, Raymond King, Bryan Klopack, Allison Kostiuk, Karl Lowe, Scott McCune, Katrina McGee, Hala Moddelmog, William Pate, Lance Pierce, Amy Rapawy, Mollye Rhea, Kirsten Suto Seckler, Mike Siegel, Ramesh Subramaniam, Damon Taugher, Jane Turner, Tycely Williams