BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS. More minds, diverse ideas to tackle issues Increase the impact New...
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Transcript of BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS. More minds, diverse ideas to tackle issues Increase the impact New...
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
More minds, diverse ideas to tackle issues
Increase the impact
New leadership or expertise
Increase resources
Broaden the scope
More advocates for your cause
WHY DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS?
Weak partners
Compromise
Less control
Inequality of power
Individual organizations may not get credit
Contributions vary
Time and resources to develop and maintain
DRAWBACKS/CHALLENGES
Borrowing some principles from community organizing…
It’s all about relationships!
FIRST…People and organizations are motivated by their self-
interest. Find and appeal to your common self-interests, and find your common interest.
SECOND…Partnership-building is a dynamic process that requires
continuous attention and eff ort.
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIPS
THIRD…Like with all relationships, it’s important that at an
early stage of development, partners learn to deal with confl ict.
FOURTH…Use what resources and time are available, and
adapt. Tap into existing resources – start building relationships; be friendly with groups that have similar goals; cooperate, coordinate or collaborate where it makes sense.
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIPS
TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS
Cooperation
Coordination
Collaboration
Shorter-term, informal relationships
Longer-term effort around specific project or task
Long-term, more complex and formalized relationships
Shared information only
Some joint planning and division of roles
New structure with commitment to common goals
Separate goals, resources, structures
Some shared resources, rewards, and risks
Pooled resources, shared rewards, leadership, risks
Relationships
Roles
Resources
Ris
k and R
ew
ard
s
Transactional to Transformational
Low intensity to High intensity
1. Assess: Identify needs and assets
2. Prepare: Begin building relationships
3. Frame issues: Establish terms
4. Make decisions: Create a plan, manage confl ict
5. Implement decisions: Carry out plan, monitor
6. Maintain relationships: Evaluate, adapt to changes
STAGES OF PARTNERSHIPS
Complementary to needs-based approach
Start with the strengths and resources that exist, not what is absent
Creative solutions to complex problems
Opens up new ways to address key issues: new patterns, new ideas, new energy, new relationships
Empowering: sees people/communities as citizens and producers, not just clients and consumers
Relationship-driven
ASSESSING & PREPARING:AN ASSET-BASED APPROACH
Group activity
RESOURCE SCAVENGER HUNT
Document the assets (strengths) in your community
Strategize how best to use resources/understand community
Starting point for building partnerships
Helps break down silos and build positive community
Dynamic: continue to update as community/resources change
Format can be creative
ASSET MAPPING: A PLACE TO START
Collect info on weaknesses and challenges facing community
Helps determine needs for new/expanded services
Can help with accessing funding resources
Increase community understanding of problems
NEEDS MAPPING
BUT… Ignores capacities and strengths
Sees outside experts as only resources for help
Problems have to be seen as increasing in order to get funding
Community believes it is deficient
Targets isolated clients, not energies of entire community
NEEDS MAPPING
Collect info on capacities, skills, strengths of individuals and groups
Might include: Individual assets Institutional assets Physical space Neighborhood economy Informal associations Relationships Stories/history of a community Programs/services
Keep in mind: Complement, not supplant existing strategies
ASSET MAPPING
ASSETS VS NEEDS MAP
Needs Map
Assets Map
Who will help you in this process? Start with your supervisor!
What type of info will you gather and from whom?
What info do you already have?
What resources and partnerships already exist?
What is the scope and your goal for mapping?
What is your process?
What are your organization’s/program’s goals and objectives, assets/gaps? How will partnership enhance your goals?
BEFORE YOU MAP
Tools: Visual map Community/school walk Newspaper investigation Photography Google maps Others
Include: People Programs/services Community resources
DOCUMENTATION
Who is at the organization(s) or in the community? (that is relevant to your project)
What do they do?
When and to whom are they available?
How do they communicate with parents, community, stakeholders? How can you best contact them?
What strengths could they potentially bring?
How might they align with your organization/program/project?
DOCUMENTATION: PEOPLE
What are existing programs and services available in the community (relevant to your project)?
Who do the programs serve?
What services do they provide?
How eff ective are they at addressing needs?
How might they align with your organization/program/project?
DOCUMENTATION: PROGRAMS/SERVICES
Who else is in the community (companies, informal associations, etc)? (relevant to your project)
What do they do? Who do they serve?
Do they have existing partnerships or relationships with your organization?
What resources or strengths do they have relevant to your project? (volunteers, space, services, money, in-kind donations)
How might they align with your organization/program/project?
DOCUMENTATION: COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Identify strategies to approach your potential partners
Negotiate a framework for decision-making and terms of agreement for each partnership Roles and responsibilities Structure/management Credit Publicity/marketing Planning and info-sharing Evaluation
If necessary, formalize with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letter of Agreement (LOA)
NEXT STEP: DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS