We recently stumbled across a nice resource from the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University called, "How to Choose One’s Partners: A Note for Boards of Nonprofit Organizations."

Although the information is focused on Boards, these are great tips for anyone who is considering collaboration and partnership. Important variables for the success of a partnership include:

1. Mission Alignment: Choosing an organization with a complimentary mission is paramount to successful partnerships.
2. Resources: Although both sides won't have equal resources, understanding the value that both bring to the table is important.
3. Culture: Engaging staff from the very beginning to build a culture of change that supports and strengthens the mission.
4. Size of the Partnership: The larger the partnership, the more human resources will need to allocated.
5. Leadership and Management: Empower the staff team to manage the details to avoid micromanagement from the Board.
6. Due Diligence: Get those skeletons out of the closet and leave no stone unturned. Both orgs need to know what they're getting into.
7. Real and Opportunity Costs: While partnerships can save money, they can also add legal costs and may also distract staff from mission-based activities, thus costing the community. Assessing the costs and risks up front is key.
8. Memorandum of Understanding: Document the intent to partner in writing and make sure there is clear understanding. Partnerships shouldn't be done on a "handshake."
9. Identifying Intended Outcomes: What are the goals of the partnership? How will they be achieved and measured?
10. Evaluations and Accountability: The board should ensure that it tracks both the strategic and program outcomes from the partnership and adjust as necessary.

Read the full article here.

Summary by Laura Deaton

Third Sector Connector member and colleague Alison Rapping from Alison & Associates published an outstanding blog posting on Transformative Collaboration. And, as a bonus, it's just one in a series of posts on this topic. The post includes:

• A list of powerful questions to jump-start your collaboration efforts
• Working definitions of Coalition, Collaboration, Strategic Alliance, Joint Venture and Merger
• 5 tips to creating successful collaborations: Intention, Mutual Respect and Trust, Goals and Accountability, Evaluation, and Celebration.

"In the new decade we are in the “perfect collaboration storm:” energy around our “community visions”, enormous critical community needs, myriad of new nonprofit organizations, and desire for greater impact. This can only happen if we work together. Our community is whole and interconnected; we can’t create a powerful vision in silos."

Read Alison's full post here (Really, it is a "must read.")

Tip submitted by Laura Deaton.