Non-profits are looking to collaborate with government agencies. What’s the best way to get started?

1 Identify your goals and needs

Before you approach any potential government partners, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you can offer. What are the specific problems or issues that your non-profit is addressing? How do they align with the government's priorities and mandates? What are the gaps or opportunities that you can fill or create? What are the benefits and risks of working with the government? How will you measure and report on your outcomes and impact? Having a well-defined and realistic proposal will help you attract and impress the right agencies and officials.

3 Communicate and negotiate

After you have identified and reached out to your target government agencies, you need to communicate and negotiate effectively to establish a mutually beneficial partnership. You should be prepared to pitch your proposal, answer questions, address concerns, and listen to feedback. You should also be flexible and open to compromise, as you may need to adjust your expectations, roles, responsibilities, and resources. You should aim to create a win-win situation, where both parties can share their vision, values, and expertise, and work towards a common goal.

4 Formalize and document

Once you have agreed on the terms and conditions of your collaboration, you need to formalize and document it in a written agreement. This can be a contract, a memorandum of understanding, a letter of intent, or any other legal document that specifies the scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, budget, and accountability of your partnership. You should also include clauses that cover dispute resolution, termination, confidentiality, and evaluation. Having a clear and comprehensive agreement will help you avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, and liabilities in the future.

5 Implement and monitor

After you have signed the agreement, you need to implement and monitor your partnership activities according to the plan. You should assign and train your staff, allocate your resources, coordinate your tasks, and report your progress. You should also maintain regular and transparent communication with your government partner, and update them on any changes, challenges, or achievements. You should also solicit and provide feedback, and celebrate your milestones and successes.

6 Evaluate and improve

Finally, you need to evaluate and improve your partnership performance and impact. You should use the indicators and methods that you agreed on in your agreement, and collect and analyze data and evidence. You should also involve your stakeholders, such as your staff, beneficiaries, donors, and community, in the evaluation process. You should then share and discuss your findings and recommendations with your government partner, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your collaboration. You should also plan and implement any actions or improvements that can enhance your partnership quality and sustainability.

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?