…according to the International Business Leaders Forum, these three elements are essential to developing a successful cross-sectoral Partnership. The dictionary definition of a ‘Partnership’ is defined as: a form of engagement where risks and benefits are shared and where there is an agreed/ongoing relationship to achieve a shared purpose.
City Action and the IBLF recently collaborated to deliver ‘Joining Forces: a practical workshop to build valuable corporate and community Partnerships’ for 30 attendees from both the corporate and charitable sectors. The aim of the event was to introduce the concept of ‘Partnering’ and to highlight some of the practical tools that are available to develop sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships between two (or more) organisations. The workshop was a great success and encouragingly, attendees from both sectors were in agreement that a successful Partnership must be a two-way process.
At the end of the workshop, many attendees had also developed a greater understanding that each Partner may bring something different to the relationship but that does not make their contribution any less valuable. For example, the common theme between corporate and charitable partnerships is often cited as funding. As a result of this funding element, the charity may feel or be treated like an unequal Partner, however, the charity could be bringing many other elements to the Partnership including: the opportunity for employee involvement in their local community, skilled practitioners in their area of work e.g. youth counselling or training and the ability to measure real outcomes or impact of the funding they received.
City Action now has a member of their team who has accredited Partnership broker status and we are able to offer help, support and resources to our members who are interested in developing a Partnership. In early 2009, City Action will be launching an area of our website containing free resources and tools for developing a Partnership.
In the meantime, it would be fantastic to hear your thoughts Partnering and some examples of successful Partnerships your organisation has undertaken or are in the process of developing.
