In the nonprofit sector, collaboration and cooperation are essential for achieving your goals. By assembling a diverse group of passionate individuals and organizations around your cause, your nonprofit can tap into more resources, skills, and perspectives to amplify your impact.

With the growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) among companies worldwide, now is the perfect time for your organization to start making the most of potential partnership opportunities.

Let’s walk through four basic steps to building productive community partnerships to bolster your mission.

1. Identify your needs.

The power of community partnerships lies in their inherent flexibility. You can tailor your collaborations with partners to suit your organization’s specific needs and goals.

Some key ways your nonprofit can benefit from a community partnership include:

• Fundraising: Invite your partners to match donations during specific campaigns, doubling the impact of individual contributions and driving engagement.
• Event sponsorship: Partner with local businesses to sponsor your events, which can help reduce costs and increase your event’s appeal. Sponsors might provide financial support, goods, or services like catering or entertainment.
• Expanded reach: Collaboration can open doors to new audiences. Through social media sharing and other cross-promotion methods, your organization and its partner can both extend visibility and engage previously untapped groups.
• Auction in-kind donations: If your nonprofit is about to host a fundraising auction, you can reach out to businesses to procure appealing, one-of-a-kind auction items. For example, a local gym might provide membership certificates or training classes that you can add to your auction catalog.
• Volunteer service: Corporate partnerships can provide volunteers for large projects and pro bono expertise for specialized needs. For instance, a tech company might offer IT support, while other businesses could encourage their employees to participate in community clean-ups or educational workshops hosted by your nonprofit.

Once you’ve identified your needs, use them as a blueprint to guide your research and pitches for potential partners. 

2. Research potential partners.

Building a truly beneficial community partnership requires time and effort. You need to find the right fit to ensure that your partnerships remain productive and valuable for the long term. Start by researching organizations that align with your mission and values.

Consider these common types of potential partners:

• Businesses: According to NPOInfo, identifying where your donors are employed can help unlock corporate philanthropy opportunities, such as matching gifts. If you notice that many of your donors work for a specific company, consider reaching out to that company as a potential partner since many of its employees are already invested in your mission.
• Schools and Universities: Educational institutions can provide a wealth of volunteer support and can be instrumental in awareness campaigns. Partnering with them can also open doors to resources like research, facilities, and a vibrant student body eager to engage with your cause.
• Other Nonprofits: When you team up with other nonprofits, you can share resources like event spaces, fundraising tools, or volunteers and even host events together.

For example, let’s say that a school is planning an auction to raise funds for its extracurricular programs and equipment. It could reach out to local businesses, churches, and civic organizations to recruit volunteers to help out during the event. Plus, it could partner with a nonprofit, such as an environmental organization, to provide experiences such as nature walks and guided birdwatching for enticing auction packages for attendees.

3. Agree on shared goals and expectations.

When forming community partnerships, ensure that the collaboration benefits both sides. Doing so keeps everyone committed and inspired to work toward shared goals.

Let’s explore some of the popular benefits that partners might seek:

• Marketing opportunities: Partners may want visibility through event signage or speaking opportunities, which allow them to showcase their commitment to important social causes. For example, they may ask for their logo to be on your event tickets or promotional materials.
• Exposure to new potential customers: By collaborating with your nonprofit, businesses can tap into your audience, giving them a unique opportunity to build trust and loyalty among your supporters.
• Public recognition: Mentions in your annual reports and shoutouts on your social media can greatly enhance a partner’s reputation by highlighting their active involvement and support for your cause.

To maximize the benefits of these partnerships, be upfront about expectations with your partners. Just as open communication is essential to maintaining loyal donor relationships, your organization can maintain trusting partnerships by scheduling regular check-ins and creating feedback mechanisms to ensure everything stays on track.

4. Follow up with impact and appreciation.

For a partnership to continue thriving, both parties must see the results they set out to achieve. Expressing gratitude and promptly following up on the impact of each partner’s contributions plays a key role in this process. For instance, SchoolAuction.net recommends acknowledging auction item donors and event sponsors on your website, auction catalog, and event signage.

To further show appreciation for your community partners, you can: 

• Add shout-outs to your website, social media, and annual report.
• Send an animated eCard or hand-written thank-you letter.
• Host an appreciation event for all community partners.
• Produce a thank-you or impact video.
• Feature partners in a dedicated section of your newsletter.
• Offer exclusive previews or behind-the-scenes tours of your projects and programs.

Transparency can go a long way toward retaining community partners. For instance, if a partner has contributed funding to support your nonprofit’s goal, consider sharing your financial statements with them to demonstrate accountability and responsible use of their resources.

Use your mission, strategic goals, and needs to guide your partnership approach, and stay open to feedback to learn how to improve experiences with your nonprofit going forward. With the right research and preparation, you can build long-term community partnerships you can rely on for years to come.