How do you maintain non-profit partnerships?

1 Define your goals and roles

The first step to maintaining non-profit partnerships is to clarify your goals and roles. What are you trying to achieve together? How will you measure your progress and impact? What are your responsibilities and contributions? How will you resolve any conflicts or challenges? Having a written agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) can help you document these aspects and avoid misunderstandings or disagreements later on.

2 Communicate regularly and transparently

The second step to maintaining non-profit partnerships is to communicate regularly and transparently. Communication is key to building trust, sharing information, and coordinating actions. You should establish a communication plan that specifies how often, when, and how you will communicate with your partners, and who will be the main contact person for each organization. You should also use various channels and methods, such as emails, phone calls, meetings, newsletters, reports, and feedback surveys, to keep your partners informed and engaged.

3 Appreciate and acknowledge your partners

The third step to maintaining non-profit partnerships is to appreciate and acknowledge your partners. Recognition and gratitude can go a long way in strengthening your relationships and fostering a positive culture of collaboration. You should express your appreciation and acknowledgment in both formal and informal ways, such as sending thank-you notes, highlighting your partners' achievements, inviting them to events, giving them awards, or featuring them in your media and publications.

4 Learn and grow together

The fourth step to maintaining non-profit partnerships is to learn and grow together. Learning and growth are essential for improving your performance, adapting to changing needs, and innovating new solutions. You should create opportunities for learning and growth with your partners, such as conducting joint evaluations, sharing best practices, providing training and coaching, seeking feedback, and exploring new possibilities.

5 Celebrate and renew your partnerships

The fifth step to maintaining non-profit partnerships is to celebrate and renew your partnerships. Celebration and renewal are important for acknowledging your accomplishments, reinforcing your commitment, and reinvigorating your enthusiasm. You should celebrate and renew your partnerships periodically, such as at the end of a project, a year, or a funding cycle. You can do this by hosting a joint event, issuing a joint statement, reviewing your agreement or MOU, or setting new goals and plans.

6 Manage and resolve conflicts

The sixth step to maintaining non-profit partnerships is to manage and resolve conflicts. Conflicts are inevitable in any partnership, and they can arise from different perspectives, interests, values, or expectations. However, conflicts can also be opportunities for learning, growth, and innovation, if they are managed and resolved constructively. You should adopt a collaborative and respectful approach to conflict resolution, such as listening actively, empathizing, clarifying, brainstorming, compromising, and agreeing on actions and follow-ups.

7 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?