Tips for Effective Nonprofit Partnerships

With limited funding and increased demand, many nonprofits are looking for ways to be more effective. Partnering with another nonprofit organization, business or unit of government is a great way to pool resources and make a bigger difference. Plus, foundations love to see collaboration.

Here are a few tips for creating effective partnerships:

• Create a plan with goals and processes aligned with partners
• Make sure the project will be self-sustaining over time
• Balance power and ensure good governance
• Define what success looks like for the partnership
• Ensure that everyone involved feels included and is educated on pertinent topics
• When possible, partner with like organizations- don't duplicate
• Think long-term!

When partnering with a nonprofit organization, business, or government it can be helpful to use a partnership agreement that outlines the terms and expectations of the partnership. Here and is a sample partnership agreement, and this website talks about different types of partnerships that your organization can do.