Partnerships
By identifying the right partners, fostering trust, and maintaining clear communication, your non-profit can unlock new opportunities, strengthen its network, and create lasting change.
Introduction
Partnerships are a cornerstone of non-profit success. Collaborating with other organizations, businesses, and community leaders amplifies your impact, shares resources, and helps achieve mutual goals. Whether seeking funding, co-hosting events, or expanding program reach, building and maintaining strategic partnerships ensures long-term sustainability and mission alignment.
This section provides best practices for identifying, building, and maintaining partnerships that align with your non-profit’s mission.
Why Partnerships Matter
Shared Resources: Partnerships provide access to expertise, funding, volunteers, and facilities that your organization might not have independently.
Increased Visibility: Working with well-known partners enhances your credibility and introduces you to new audiences.
Amplified Impact: Partnerships allow you to scale programs and initiatives faster by combining efforts.
Innovation: Collaborating with others brings fresh perspectives and creative solutions to challenges.
Best Practices for Partnerships
1. Define Your Partnership Goals
Be clear about what you’re looking for in a partnership:
Financial support (e.g., sponsorships, grants).
Program collaboration (e.g., co-hosting events or shared services).
Advocacy and awareness (e.g., joint campaigns or lobbying efforts).
Example:
A non-profit focused on food security might partner with local grocery stores for food donations and with community centers to distribute meals.
2. Identify the Right Partners
Look for organizations that share your mission, values, or audience.
Consider partnerships across sectors:
Non-Profits: Collaborate on shared goals and amplify each other’s impact.
Local Businesses: Seek sponsorships or in-kind donations.
Educational Institutions: Partner for research, volunteer programs, or educational initiatives.
Government Agencies: Leverage resources for grants, policy advocacy, or community programs.
Tips:
Use LinkedIn or community directories to identify potential partners.
Attend networking events, webinars, and local chamber of commerce meetings.
3. Start Small
Begin with low-stakes collaborations to test compatibility:
Co-host a small event.
Exchange resources, such as cross-promoting campaigns.
Build trust gradually before committing to larger, long-term initiatives.
4. Create a Clear Partnership Agreement
Put all expectations, responsibilities, and goals in writing to avoid misunderstandings.
Include:
Deliverables and timelines.
Financial contributions or resource-sharing specifics.
Decision-making processes.
Conflict resolution strategies.
Free Resource:
Use templates from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center for partnership agreements.
5. Foster Regular Communication
Schedule consistent check-ins to align on progress, address concerns, and celebrate successes.
Use tools like Slack or Zoom for ongoing collaboration, especially for remote partnerships.
6. Focus on Mutual Benefits
Ensure the partnership benefits both parties:
Demonstrate how your organization’s work supports your partner’s goals.
Highlight metrics and success stories to showcase the value you provide.
7. Evaluate and Adapt
Regularly review partnership outcomes against goals.
Ask:
Are we achieving what we set out to do?
Are there ways to improve collaboration?
Be open to renegotiating terms or pivoting if the partnership isn’t effective.
Key Strategies for Building Partnerships
Leverage Community Connections
Tap into your existing network for introductions to potential partners.
Board members, volunteers, and donors are often excellent connectors.
Offer Value First
Approach partnerships with a mindset of giving before asking:
Promote a partner’s event.
Share your audience for mutual benefit.
Participate in Collaborative Opportunities
Join coalitions or working groups within your field:
Example: Non-profits addressing homelessness could collaborate on advocacy initiatives.
Use Data to Support Proposals
Show potential partners the tangible impact of working with your organization using metrics and success stories.
Tools like Google Data Studio can help create compelling visual reports.
Examples of Successful Partnerships
Corporate Partnerships:
Example: A non-profit partners with a local business to sponsor a community event, with the business providing funding and the non-profit handling logistics.
Program Partnerships:
Example: Two non-profits collaborate to address food insecurity by combining one’s meal preparation services with the other’s delivery infrastructure.
Advocacy Partnerships:
Example: Multiple organizations join forces to advocate for a policy change, leveraging each group’s unique networks and expertise.
Free and Affordable Resources for Partnerships
LinkedIn for Nonprofits: Use the platform to research potential partners and build connections.
TechSoup: Offers discounted or free tools for collaboration, such as Microsoft 365 and Zoom.
VolunteerMatch: Partner with organizations seeking to share volunteers for common causes.
GrantStation: Identify funders interested in collaborative projects (affordable with discounts for non-profits).
Community Forums: Join groups like Nonprofit Happy Hour (Slack community) for partnership opportunities.
Simple Advice to Begin
Start by identifying one organization or business in your community whose mission aligns with yours. Reach out with a specific proposal, such as co-hosting a small event or sharing resources for a joint campaign. Focus on building trust and demonstrating mutual value to lay the groundwork for a long-term partnership.
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