Business Development Committee

The Business Development Committee helps strengthen MnAEYC’s long-term sustainability by building relationships, developing funding opportunities, and sharing the story of MnAEYC’s impact across Minnesota. This committee plays an important role in ensuring that MnAEYC has the resources, partnerships, and visibility needed to support early childhood professionals, children, families, and communities.

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Purpose

The Business Development Committee works to advance MnAEYC’s mission by identifying and cultivating opportunities for financial support, community partnership, and organizational growth. Through fundraising, sponsorships, grant development, and strategic relationship-building, the committee helps expand MnAEYC’s capacity to serve the early childhood field.

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The committee also supports the board and organization in telling MnAEYC’s story clearly and compellingly. By helping develop shared language, elevator speeches, and promotional messages, the committee ensures that board members and supporters can confidently communicate the value and impact of MnAEYC’s work.

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Key Responsibilities

The Business Development Committee is responsible for developing and supporting MnAEYC’s annual fundraising and development plan. This includes identifying strategies to grow revenue, strengthen donor engagement, and build sustainable funding streams that support MnAEYC’s programs, events, advocacy, and member services.

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The committee also helps build relationships with businesses, organizations, philanthropic partners, and community leaders who share MnAEYC’s commitment to young children, families, and the early childhood workforce. These relationships help create opportunities for partnership, sponsorship, investment, and shared advocacy.

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In addition, the committee supports MnAEYC’s Annual Giving Campaign by helping plan outreach, messaging, and engagement strategies that invite individuals and organizations to invest in MnAEYC’s mission.

The committee also contributes to grant fund development by identifying potential grant opportunities, supporting proposal planning, and helping connect MnAEYC’s priorities with funder interests.

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A key responsibility of the committee is securing sponsorships for MnAEYC events, including conferences, leadership institutes, webinars, and other professional development opportunities. Through sponsor outreach and relationship-building, the committee helps create meaningful opportunities for businesses and organizations to support and connect with Minnesota’s early childhood community.

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Finally, the committee supports board storytelling and organizational promotion. This includes helping board members develop clear, confident elevator speeches, share MnAEYC’s impact, and promote the organization within their own networks and communities.

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Committee Activities May Include

• Developing an annual fundraising and development plan

• Building relationships with businesses, organizations, and philanthropic partners

• Supporting MnAEYC’s Annual Giving Campaign

• Identifying and supporting grant funding opportunities

• Securing sponsorships for MnAEYC events and initiatives

• Creating tools to help board members share MnAEYC’s story

• Developing elevator speeches and talking points

• Promoting MnAEYC’s mission, impact, and opportunities for partnership

• Supporting donor, sponsor, and partner stewardship

• Helping connect MnAEYC’s work with potential funders and community supporters

 

Why Join This Committee?

Serving on the Business Development Committee is a meaningful way to help ensure MnAEYC has the resources and relationships needed to sustain and grow its impact. Committee members help connect the organization with partners, sponsors, donors, and funders who care about early childhood education and the professionals who make this work possible.

 

This committee is a great fit for individuals who enjoy relationship-building, fundraising, communications, storytelling, community outreach, grant development, sponsorships, or strategic planning. You do not need to be a fundraising expert to contribute — a passion for MnAEYC’s mission and a willingness to help share our story are powerful starting points.

 

Join Us

MnAEYC members are invited to get involved with the Business Development Committee and help build the partnerships and resources that make our work possible. Together, we can strengthen MnAEYC’s sustainability, expand our reach, and ensure that early childhood professionals across Minnesota continue to have access to meaningful support, connection, advocacy, and professional learning.