Community Partnership Program
Earn Up to $5,000 for Your Cause!
Sparrowhawk's model is based on the idea that we all get further by sharing resources and leveraging relationships. Each Sparrowhawk event is co-hosted by a community organization that gets a share of the event proceeds, up to $5000! In 2023, we expect to give back over $35,000 to community partners.
Our intention is to partner with community organizations that actively center racial equity, habitat conservation and environmental justice. Together, we publicize the importance of native plants in a healthy ecosystem and we share staffing and event coordination responsibilities.
We're currently soliciting interest in new partnerships for fall 2024 and beyond (spring 2024 is already full).
Each spring and fall season, we put together a dynamic line-up of four partners that; 1) span a broad geography and reach neighborhoods that otherwise may not have access to low-cost native plants, 2) align with our values of racial equity, habitat conservation, and environmental justice, 3) have ideal locations for a pop-up event (details below), 4) represent a good balance of large/small orgs and groups we've worked with before versus new groups that we can't wait to get to know.
Check out the partnership details below. Then, start the conversation by completing our "Partner Interest Form" (link at bottom of page) and we'll follow-up with you directly.
~ Plants for the Planet, Proceeds for the Community ~
Sparrowhawk Provides:
- Educational and secure website for ordering plants: https://sparrowhawknativeplants.com/
- Publicity Lead: we publicize widely across multiple platforms (i.e. 11,000+ email list; 5,000+ social media followers) and provide a comprehensive marketing toolkit for partners to use
- Volunteer Support: we provide a toolkit of resources to support partners as they recruit event volunteers including; a fillable volunteer schedule, descriptions of roles, skills/experience, and shifts needed, and example email text for partners to use in recruitment, scheduling and follow-up communications
- Native Plants and Plant Expertise: neonic-free, sourced from reputable, independent businesses, all-season plant identification and expertise in how plant species function in residential, commercial and parks/natural area landscapes
- Customer Service Lead: we manage customer service and handle all financial transactions during the online ordering period, as well as onsite
- Insurance: upon request, Sparrowhawk can provide certificate of liability insurance with coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Event Coordination and Logistics: we have 12+ years of experience running large plant sales and provide a safe and efficient event layout and customer/traffic flow
- Overnight Security: onsite security guard ensures plant inventory stays safe overnight
- Fundraising Give-back to Partners: up to $5,000 available to partners. The 2024 giveback worksheet is HERE.
Community Partner Provides:
- Staffing/Volunteers: for plant sorting and labeling, and event days; approx 32 four-hour volunteer shifts across three days; includes recruitment, scheduling, coordination and communication (Sparrowhawk supports, see above)
- Publicity Support: Spread the word about sales through partner's community and marketing channels. Sparrowhawk will provide checklist of items to complete, including but not limited to social media, e-newsletters, blogs, fliers, events, website, etc.
- Wheelbarrows/Garden Carts: Supply 8 fully-functioning wheelbarrows or large garden carts for three day event.
- Location (optional but strongly preferred): Supply large outdoor space (i.e. your paved parking lot, a neighborhood church or community center) for Thursday - Saturday pop-up event. Spring pop-ups occur in mid/late April - early/mid-May and fall events occur in Oct. Suitable locations include;
- equivalent of 55 parking spaces; about 22 for plant set-up, 25 for customer parking, 8 for staff/volunteer parking. Street parking may be considered for customer/staff parking if safe, easy and close.
- access to outdoor water spigot/hose and approval to use infrequently during the event if needed.
- at least some afternoon and evening shade provided by tall trees or other structures on the west side of the property
- access to indoor "breakroom" space for getting out of nasty weather and space for locking up some tubs of event supplies overnight is not required, but strongly preferred.