Collaborate, consolidate, merge

Is it time to consider a partnership?

The New Year has dawned and here you are, valiantly working to move your nonprofit forward in this sluggish economy. Is there a better way to deliver on your mission? Could it finally be time to seriously explore forming partnerships with other organizations?

Perhaps it’s something about the kind of leaders that our sector attracts. We’re passionate, visionary, and no strangers to long hours. Unfortunately, these same characteristics may in fact keep us from letting down our barriers and being willing to join forces with other like-minded organizations.

As funding across the sector tightens, nonprofits are well served to consider how to build cross-functional and sustainable partnerships to strengthen organizational capacity. Funders are having to make difficult decisions; those organizations that can demonstrate greater efficiency, service integration, and collaboration will be uniquely positioned to thrive.

Here are some considerations to get you started:

1.  Don’t think of a potential collaboration as a last resort–something you are forced to do. Why not consider sharing, collaborating and/or blending as a proactive move toward more sustainable services to the people you serve?

2.  Realistically define what you have to share, and what you would seek from a partner–and let’s eliminate “dollars” from the equation, since it is a given that most everyone is challenged. Perhaps you have space, and a potential partner has an abundance of volunteers seeking meaningful engagement. Perhaps you have excellent technology systems, and a partner has a strong community outreach team.

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