In the space provided on your Who to Partner With template, list the nonprofit organizations operating in the community you serve and examine them by answering the following questions. Do they:
- Offer services that could enhance what you currently provide to your clientele?
- Have a mission and vision compatible with yours?
- Stand to benefit from a partnership with you (for instance, would your services be a good supplement to theirs)?
Place a circle around the organizations that meet all three of these criteria. Take some time to contact these organizations and assess their interest in engaging in some level of shared services. Then, put together a meeting with one or more of these organizations to discuss possibilities. The following are a few examples of common shared services:
- Multi-tenant facilities
- Group purchasing
- Accounting services
- Marketing services
- Consulting services
- Human resource services