Difficult, but oh so worth it.
At Leadership Savvy, collaborations and strategic partnerships are one of our favorite topics. Because it often yields the biggest wins. Our consulting and coaching helps leaders find success in the complex partnership world for accelerating community-change. Truth is, the issues we are faced with today are so complex, major changes in status quo will require partnerships. This said, strategic partnerships have big potential, but are not always a sure way to success.
We love leading projects and trainings on collaborations and strategic restructures. The goal being what can we do more in partnership – better, faster, more efficient. Sometimes the answer is still to go it alone, but so much is learned about each organization, community needs, and possible solutions. When partnerships do form though, magic can happen. We not only want magic to happen, but we want it to last. Sustained collaboration can be difficult to achieve without proper planning and perhaps more importantly upkeep. This ongoing treadmill is only possible when all parties truly have a shared vision and trust.
Partnerships through the Pandemic
Through this pandemic many organizations have had to reassess how (and if) they will continue to serve. In our previous article, we walked through the ranging responses we saw. Some organizations immediately put programs on hold, while others dove in to make drastic and innovative changes. In regards to strategic collaborations, the pandemic put many explorations and negotiations on hold. Towards the summer and fall though, we saw more organizations emerge to ask, how can we do this in partnership? In a follow up article we shared some more recent partnership efforts and how some have approached it as a way for creative problem solving through a pandemic. Not all have succeeded, and some will require some time to see the true impact of the mergers and partnerships.
Nonprofits Starting to Explore Partnerships Again
We had the pleasure to partner with Bloomerang and two representatives of the Sustained Collaboration Network to share a presentation on “Nonprofit Partnership Models for Lasting Change.” The session walked through various types of partnership models and a range of real-life examples. Together we explored the complexities and structures. From initiating partnership conversations, identifying potential partners, tips for managing partnerships.
Our guest speakers also shared about the recently launched Sustained Collaboration Network of foundations. A network of nonprofit funders and intermediaries dedicated to making nonprofits more efficient, effective, and sustainable through sustained collaboration. The foundations span the nation and are providing financial support for many organizations for exploring and in some cases, implementing strategic collaborations. More information on the network can be found here.
Specifically, the session covered:
– Partnership models (coordination, collaboration, affiliations, mergers, etc.)
– Collaborative funding: partnerships, foundation, and government perspectives
– Strategies for leading and managing strong partnerships
– Tales of caution: handling sticky situations
Finally, the workshop had participants actively reflecting on their readiness and/or success in their current partnership efforts. The group looked at the importance of being intentional about the purpose, people, and process. Providing ideas and strategies to take help take their efforts to the next level.
If you missed this presentation, check out our events page for upcoming events and past recordings.
Looking to embark or build upon your partnerships and collaborative efforts? Let’s connect!
