How do you build successful partnerships?

1 Identify potential partners

Before you approach any potential partner, you need to have a clear idea of what your program goals are, what gaps or challenges you face, and what value you can offer to others. Then, you can research and identify organizations or individuals that share your vision, mission, and values, and have complementary skills, assets, or networks. You can use online databases, referrals, or networking events to find potential partners.

2 Establish mutual expectations

Once you have identified a potential partner, you need to initiate a conversation and explore the possibilities of collaboration. You need to be transparent and honest about your program objectives, needs, and capacities, and listen to what your partner expects and offers. You also need to discuss how you will communicate, coordinate, and monitor your partnership activities, and how you will handle any conflicts or changes. You can use a partnership agreement or a memorandum of understanding to formalize your expectations and commitments.

3 Nurture the relationship

Building a successful partnership is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process that requires trust, respect, and mutual support. You need to maintain regular and open communication with your partner, and provide feedback, recognition, and appreciation for their contributions. You also need to be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, and willing to negotiate and compromise when necessary. You can use meetings, reports, surveys, or events to nurture your relationship and celebrate your achievements.

4 Evaluate the outcomes

Evaluating your partnership outcomes is important for measuring your program impact, learning from your experience, and improving your future partnerships. You need to collect and analyze data on how your partnership activities have contributed to your program goals, what challenges or benefits you have encountered, and what feedback or suggestions you have received from your partner and other stakeholders. You can use tools such as logic models, surveys, interviews, or case studies to evaluate your outcomes and share your findings.

5 Seek new opportunities

Building a successful partnership does not mean that you have to limit yourself to one partner or one project. You can seek new opportunities to expand or diversify your partnership network, or to deepen or scale up your existing partnership. You can also use your partnership experience to inform your program development strategy, and to identify new areas of need or interest. You can use platforms such as newsletters, blogs, or social media to showcase your partnership stories and attract new partners.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?