Tag Archives: Nonprofit partnership

Nonprofit Collaboration Pooling Ideas and Resources

Nonprofit Collaboration: Pooling Ideas and Resources

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It can be frustrating when nonprofits are aware of needs in the community, whether attributed to individuals or issues, but do not have the resources or staff to accomplish those specific goals. Their employees have great ideas and great energy, but sometimes there just isn’t enough of either to tackle the tasks needed in their community.

When this happens, it can be disappointing at best and dire at worst. Nonprofits provide extensive programming to their communities but are sometimes brought to a standstill because a lack of funding, manpower or various logistics prevent them from achieving the results they want and know the community needs.

That is where nonprofit collaboration comes into play. Nonprofits are resourceful and when they partner with other organizations in their community, the resources can extend even further. So, if your nonprofit is looking for ideas of how to collaborate more with others to continue your incredible work, keep reading. Not only will you be pooling some of your resources which can increase the likeness of success, you will be able to identify and reduce duplication of services as well.

Where to Begin?

Most nonprofits may have experienced periods of financial drought or limited resources throughout the years. The economy changes and budgets fluctuate. Or, unfortunately, circumstances like natural disasters can influence a community’s emergency needs. One agency can’t do all the work alone, nor are they expected to, but these are tough words to swallow when there are issues to address or individuals to care for.

Just because the focus shifts doesn’t mean the issues at hand cease to exist. Sure, this can be a crushing setback, but it can also be an opportunity. The nonprofit sector is not and never will be a “one and done”. We must always be reassessing and re-evaluating the needs of our community.

And that’s where we start. Identify the community needs and then create a list of which organization does what and where, and for how long and at what financial cost. This will help in identifying where the gaps are and how collaboration can fill in those spots where needs exist. Remember we talked about reducing duplication of services. This can be an opportunity to better utilize some of those resources and ensure maximum impact while reducing waste.

What Are the Next Steps in the Plan?

This is where your collaborative efforts begin to take shape. The informal conversation about possibly working together leads to a more formal agreement with resources and goals in mind. Each member of this partnership must be aware of the scope of commitment each other can provide. While you are linking services to address a broader mission, parameters must be in place to ensure a smooth delivery of services.

The Ever-Present Notion of Collective Impact

There is no organization in the nonprofit sector that is unaware of collective impact especially when it influences securing funding for programs or other initiatives. Funders from corporations to private foundations to government entities want to see that nonprofits are ready and willing to collaborate in order to pull resources and reduce the risk of duplicating efforts.

This sounds great in theory, but often funders don’t realize how difficult collaboration can be to coordinate program logistics and execute services. Nonprofit organizations must employ a detailed development plan with their partners to assure funders that programs will operate with efficiency and eliminate waste or duplication. Adhering to a strategy of collective impact can improve the chances of full funding in order to execute programmatic goals.

Playing Nice and Making Friends

There will be complexities along the way that can create challenges as well as the unexpected unseen forces that can hopefully move each organization to adapt with flexibility and grace. Nonprofit organizations and the people they employ are driven by a passion to improve the lives of all individuals in their communities as well as address needs that make their towns and cities robust with education and culture. Keeping in mind the initial reason for the collaboration to take place should cement the overarching mission of providing services to those in need and benefiting the community in which all belong.

Interns as Potential Employees: Partnering With Local Colleges & Universities

Interns as Potential Employees: Partnering with Local Colleges & Universities

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The engine that drives any business, whether in the private sector or the nonprofit world, is a diverse staff with a range of talents and expertise. Any nonprofit consulting firm will advise that maintaining veteran employees while injecting a fresh perspective with newer employees is critical in keeping that engine a well-oiled machine.

One important way that organizations can balance the depth of employees is to create an internship program that boosts staff numbers in the short term but also has the potential to create long-term employees. Forming partnerships with local as well as regional colleges and universities is the perfect place to start.

Define Your Needs

Analyze your programs and determine where gaps exist. An intern could potentially fill those gaps to enable programs to function at full capacity. Nonprofit organizations have an enormous breadth of departments and programs that would be conducive to aligning interns with areas that need attention that staff members can’t create or complete.

Simple observations aren’t enough. Your numbers will tell a more comprehensive story. Are you falling short of fundraising goals? Maybe an intern in your development and marketing departments could provide an added benefit to securing more dollars. Are clients missing out on direct services because there just aren’t enough employees to provide assistance to those who need it? Project-specific interns can assist seasoned program specialists, ensuring that no one falls through the cracks.

And always ask your staff what they need. They are often spread too thin and know where problem areas could benefit from an extra hands on deck.

Win-Win Partnerships

Colleges and universities in your area can provide a wealth of potential intern candidates that match your organization’s needs for augmenting services as well as adding to the depth of expertise on staff.

Students and faculty often look for internship opportunities for specific fields and programs. Depending on the school, look for campus departments like career centers whose purpose is to match students with local businesses and nonprofit organizations in order to fill academic requirements.

It may also be helpful to contact college deans, department chairs, or professors to discuss what you have available or what can possibly be created to not only fill gaps in staff and programs but to also provide a rich, experiential opportunity.

Make sure you convey the benefits of establishing this partnership. Students will gain real-world workplace experience in their fields and will be actively contributing to helping their community. Colleges and universities will improve their position in the community by aligning with nonprofit organizations whose missions are defined by giving back to improve people’s lives. And they improve their track record of turning students into employed graduates.

Thinking Outside the Internship Box

Contemplate the areas of study with which to identify potential interns in. The field of social work is an obvious place to start because many graduates will gravitate to direct services provided by many nonprofits. But there are also other academic majors to consider as possibilities in establishing an internship program.

• Communications: College students are tech-savvy when it comes to online platforms. A communications major intern could help to build your online presence across multiple social media platforms or help with other traditional media like writing press releases.

• Advertising and Marketing: Interns from these fields can bring cutting-edge knowledge about building your brand and conveying the purpose of your mission across a variety of media channels.

• Computer Science: Your team has had ideas for a database that links programs or a system that tracks numbers for grants compliance, but the expense has prevented this from going beyond a dream. Interns with software creation skills could help maximize efficiency with their ability to design programs and applications.

Many in nonprofit leadership seek advice from experts in nonprofit consulting about how to conserve or stretch funding while remaining a viable source of assistance in their community. Whether your nonprofit is looking to fill in gaps for the long term or short, we believe that internships can be a great way to help with that, while also providing the often-needed experience that new grads need when finishing up school. For help navigating the internship space, or to learn about other cost sharing employment strategies, contact KM Clark Consulting.

How to Write a Mutually Beneficial Partnership Agreement With a Business

How Do You Write a Mutually Beneficial Nonprofit Partnership Agreement?

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We know… it can be tough to find a good business partner. Let alone one that shares the same values as your sustainable nonprofit organization.

But… the time you’ll spend doing so is definitely worth it! So where do we start? Well, the most important first step when writing a nonprofit partnership agreement is outlining what you offer and what you hope to gain from the partnership. Once you know that, you can search for the right business partner and start hammering out an agreement that will be a perfect fit!

So don’t give up! Our nonprofit consulting agency is giving you our guide on how to find the perfect partnerships and write a mutually beneficial nonprofit partnership agreement. Now… let’s get to it!

Characteristics of a Good Nonprofit Partnership Agreement

We all want to do things right the first time and get frustrated when we don’t. We know because we’re guilty of it too. So, when creating a nonprofit partnership agreement, make sure you check off the following items:

1. Working together offers mutual benefits — Both parties can reap rewards from the arrangement! Donating money, time, or resources to a good cause is always rewarding, and businesses can gain visibility and positive publicity from these collaborations. So be sure to explore all the possibilities of what your company can offer!

2. Features brand/mission alignment — It’s important for you to consider if the organizations are compatible. This means that their branding is consistent and that their missions align with each other. For example, a conservation charity would be a great partner for a company that makes camping supplies or rents kayaks and canoes to vacationers. Both organizations share a common goal of preserving the environment!

3. Includes clear communication — Communication is key in any relationship — this is especially true for partnerships! Without good communication, things can quickly fall apart. We believe it’s important to be clear on what each party expects to gain from the arrangement from the start. Maybe your organization is looking for donations, volunteer hours, or corporate sponsorship for an event. Whereas, the business owner who agrees to a partnership may want free advertising and a boost to their public image. Whatever the case may be, both parties should have a clear understanding of what’s expected!

You’ve got a good match if you’ve checked the boxes above, so now we want to make sure all expectations are clearly captured to keep things running smooth.

Define Expectations, Timelines, and Deliverables

This is where you should write down what each party’s contribution will be. At this point, the partnership agreement becomes more of an action-oriented document rather than one that defines or negotiates terms; so it needs clarity too! Make sure there aren’t any surprises in writing up these agreements and remember to clarify all promises before signing off on anything final — just like every good relationship deserves some effort from both parties involved, so does the partnership!

One of the best ways to make sure that both parties are clear on what needs to be done and when is by including a time-bound element in your agreement. This can include anything from an obligation for one party to complete a task before a specific date, all the way down to specific tasks/deadlines set during different periods throughout each day — you decide how much detail works best!

Nonprofit Consulting on Partnerships and Strategy

With so many options out there, it’s not easy to find the right nonprofit or business partner, let alone getting the perfect nonprofit partnership agreement on the first try! KM Clark Consulting Group has helped many sustainable nonprofits forge partnerships, and we’re here to help you too. We have experience with sustainable nonprofits of all shapes and sizes, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help finding a partner or want some nonprofit consulting on how best to market your organization. Contact us to find out what we can do for you today!

Here Is How & Why You Should Pursue a Business Partnership for Your Nonprofit

Here is How and Why You Should Pursue a Business Partnership for Your Nonprofit

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You want your nonprofit to be as effective as possible. We all do, right? But… you’re not sure how to find the right partners.

This is such a common problem because it’s not always easy to find the right nonprofit partnerships. You want a company that shares your values and is interested in helping your sustainable nonprofit achieve its goals. That means not just anyone can fit the bill. This makes it daunting to find the right partner. When we find the right partners though, it’s worth it!

We’ve noticed that a lot of nonprofits focus on partnerships with other nonprofits, religious institutions, community groups, and schools, yet ignore one major player that could completely shift their idea of partnerships. Businesses. Partnerships with businesses offer significant advantages to both parties and should be considered whenever possible. However, it’s important to know how to approach potential business partners. So here are the top tips we’ve uncovered in our nonprofit consulting agency to get you started:

How Business-Nonprofit Partnerships are Mutually Beneficial

The possibilities for benefits when partnering with a business are endless! Not only can businesses donate products and services that will help the nonprofit, but their own brand recognition and status in the community will increase as well. Volunteers are also likely to come forward from businesses boosting the companies’ reputations and the nonprofit organization’s resources. Nonprofits everywhere should be assessing and seizing the opportunity to form these win-win partnerships.

Know What Nonprofit Partnerships Offer

If you’re still struggling to understand why a business would want to find nonprofit partnerships, then you’re in luck! There are lots of great reasons for a business to partner with a nonprofit.

Businesses want to contribute and give back to their community, and nonprofits offer a great way to do that. Partnerships with nonprofits also offer free publicity for businesses, which can lead to more sales. Plus, involvement with a nonprofit can help attract and retain customers who care about corporate social responsibility. Employees might also be happier working for a company that is committed to giving back to the community.

Find Good Potential Partners

Start by brainstorming local businesses that are aligned with your cause – doing a little online research will yield a good list of qualified candidates. Sometimes, you’ll see an obvious and immediate connection. For example, a literacy organization serving the same town as a private high school has overlapping interests. Another example would be a conservation charity teaming up with a company that rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards on a nearby reservoir. The possibilities are endless! Sometimes you just have to think creatively to find the connection.

Decide What You Want

Welcome to the wonderful world of business partnerships! When two or more businesses work together, everyone benefits. But how will each party benefit… it’s important for you to think about this before finalizing a partnership.

To get started, it’s important to be clear on what you want from the partnership. What will you do? What will the business do? This at least gives you a framework for having a discussion. Knowing what you can bring to the partnership is also key – you know in a general way how nonprofit partners help businesses, so be ready to offer specifics that suit the type of business you are trying to partner with. Being specific will help paint a clear picture of the value your nonprofit is bringing to the table.

Nonprofit Consulting on Partnerships and More

Do you want to grow your nonprofit?

We know that a sustainable nonprofit is constantly looking for new ways to build their partnerships and gain exposure. And we’re here to help! Partnering with businesses is a great way for nonprofits to get more donations, increase their visibility, and have access to new marketing opportunities.

We can help with forming these partnerships, let our experience provide the insight you need to get this moving. You won’t find another company that is more passionate about helping your organization than we are. Don’t wait, contact us today!