When an organization tells you they are a partner with another organization, what does that mean? Do you think of both organizations working together to deliver their programs? Or do you envision organizations just swapping logos and web links?
The word partner in the nonprofit sector has different connotations. At the very least, both organizations publicly support one another’s efforts in the community. Beyond this support is where it tends to become more fluid.
As an organization, developing partnerships can be extremely advantageous. But where do you begin? Here are simple steps to consider when developing a nonprofit partnership:
- Objective: What is it you want out of the partnership? Is it marketing, program expansion, program efficiency, constituency building?
- Outcome: What is the outcome that you want? If the partnership stopped, what would be the impact? This could be more people served, new contacts/constituents for the organization, etc. Define it in terms of numbers.
- Maintenance: Who will be responsible for maintaining the relationship?
- Financial: Will there be any financial implications for the partnership? If so, will this be an earned income strategy (revenue generating activity)? Who will oversee the financial systems of the partnership?
- Fundraising: What opportunities exist for the organizations to seek outside support for the partnership? Who will build the case for support and develop fundraising collateral?
- Community Awareness: What is the message to the community about the partnership? How will the public, donors, constituents, and others linked to the organizations hear about the partnership?
- Agreement: Partnerships should have agreements for mutual understanding. Make sure to have an agreement that has deliverables by each organization, a timeline, and an exit strategy in place.
By taking the planning steps above, your organization will be on the right track to get the outcome you want from the right partner. We will continue this conversation next time by talking about the different categories of partnerships for organizations.
