Seven Tips for Building a Nonprofit Parnership Network
Nonprofit Partnership Networks are creating a lot of buzz as of late – and with good reason. Just like for-profit business partnerships, all sides mutually benefit from working together. Not only do these partnerships get the job done, but they also provide more brand exposure and credibility for your organization.
However, landing the deal can be an intimidating task. Where do you even start? Determining the best candidates for a potential partnership requires a lot of work and insight, but the benefits are worth it in the end. Here are seven tips for building a non-profit partnership network:
Make Your Name Known
Companies and organizations won’t be interested in collaborating with you if they don’t know who you are. Make sure your non-profit has a known, credible reputation and easily assessable information (like a website) about your mission and those involved. With the help from a few marketing campaigns on social media and in your local community, others will start to take notice. This will promote a baseline of trust, which in turn, will make companies more open to any potential dealings with your non-profit.
Evaluate Internally
If you are truly interested in building a partnership network, you must first decide what aspects of your non-profit can be improved by it. Analyze every aspect of your organization. Would it benefit from a specialized software? Could an integral part of your operations benefit from outsourcing? This will give you a starting point for pursuing potential partners. Once you have identified an area that could be aided by partnership, you can proceed to the next tip.
Engage in Recon
Aligning with partners typically requires some research. Look for companies that could easily provide you with the help you need. This could be another non-profit, a for-profit company, or even your local government. Larger operations should be reliable and efficient, but you might have trouble getting their attention. On the other hand, smaller companies will be looking for an opportunity to grow, but their service might not be as polished. Consider the size, quality, and strategies of each potential partner before aligning to make a deal. Additionally, evaluate the individuals at the top – those who you will be conversing with if you decide to move forward with them. It’s important to ensure every aspect of the deal is a good fit for both parties.
Make Connections
Whether you are for-profit or non-profit, you’ve surely heard this before: network, network, network. Making connections will always be beneficial to your organization. Interacting online (though Facebook, Linked In, etc.), and through local networking events, expands your circles and your organization’s recognition. A casual, positive conversation can translate into an open door for partnerships later on.
Reach Out First
When you’ve found a company or non-profit that would be a good fit in your network, don’t be afraid to make the first move. Nothing is going to move forward unless someone decides to act. The other party might not know you are open to collaborating or perhaps is too focused on other matters. Sending an email or scheduling a meeting is the first “big step” to closing the deal. The worst they can do is say “no”. If they’re not interested, you can simply move on to another opportunity.
Maintain Relationships
Once you have a signed partnership, the job isn’t over. Just like any good relationship, you must make an effort to keep both parties on good terms. Maintain positive communication beyond work negotiations and try to express gratitude, in some form, every now and then. Small efforts can keep your partnerships strong and promote a positive reputation towards new inquiries.
Market Your Network to Others
Once you have established collaborations with a few organizations, you can begin to use your network as a selling point. Aligning with a successful, efficient partnership network would give other organizations multiple opportunities to grow and benefit from your work. From there, the collective effort only multiplies into greater results.
Frequently asked questionsHow do you build a nonprofit partnership network?
Start by making your nonprofit known and credible so other organizations recognize who you are. Then evaluate your own operations to find where a partner could genuinely help, research candidates that fit, network to build connections, and reach out first when you spot a good match. Once a partnership is signed, keep it healthy with steady communication and a little gratitude.
What kinds of organizations make good nonprofit partners?
A partner can be another nonprofit, a for-profit business, or even your local government. Larger operations tend to be reliable and efficient but can be harder to get in front of, while smaller companies are often eager to grow even if their service is less polished. Weigh the size, quality, and strategy of each option, and look closely at the people you would actually be working with.
Why are partnerships worth the effort for a nonprofit?
Partnerships get real work done while also raising your brand exposure and credibility. When you align with a strong, efficient network, both sides benefit and the collective results multiply. A trusted partner can fill a gap that is hard to close on your own.
How do you decide what kind of partner your nonprofit needs?
Look inward first. Analyze every part of your organization and ask what could be improved, like a specialized software need or an operation that would run better if it were outsourced. Once you have named a specific area that a partnership could strengthen, you have a clear starting point for who to pursue.
How do you keep a nonprofit partnership strong after it is signed?
The work is not over once the deal closes. Stay in touch beyond active negotiations, and find small ways to show gratitude on a regular basis. Those small efforts keep the relationship solid and build a positive reputation that draws new inquiries.
Should you reach out to a potential partner first?
Yes. Nothing moves forward until someone decides to act, and the other party may not even know you are open to collaborating. Sending an email or scheduling a meeting is the first big step, and the worst they can say is no, which simply frees you to pursue another opportunity.