When Partnership Becomes Strategy: How Nonprofits Can Explore Collaboration Before Crisis

For many nonprofits, collaboration enters the conversation when something is already wrong: funding has declined, a key leader is leaving, staffing is stretched, or the organization is struggling to keep up with growing needs.

But what if partnership became part of strategic planning—not a last resort?

Nonprofits don’t have to wait for a crisis to explore how working with another organization could strengthen their missions. The best time to consider collaboration may be when both organizations are healthy enough to approach the conversation with curiosity, creativity, and choice.

Start with the “why”

Collaboration should begin with a strategic question: What could we accomplish together that would be difficult to accomplish alone? Perhaps two organizations serve similar populations but in different ways. Maybe they share a geographic area, face similar workforce challenges, or have complementary expertise. Perhaps a partnership could create efficiencies, expand services, strengthen fundraising, or provide greater stability for both organizations.

The goal isn’t simply to reduce costs. It’s to determine whether working together could create greater impact.

BoardSource encourages nonprofit boards to consider strategic partnerships as part of their broader responsibility for mission, strategy, and organizational sustainability. For instance, does the organization have the resources and capacity needed to achieve its goals—could working with others accelerate impact?

Explore before you decide

“Partnership” can mean many things. A nonprofit might share administrative functions, collaborate on a program, coordinate services, jointly pursue funding, share space, or create a formal strategic alliance. The Bridgespan Group describes nonprofit collaboration as a spectrum, ranging from informal associations and joint programming to shared services and mergers.

Different approaches can help organizations strengthen programs, expand their reach, or create operational efficiencies. Early exploration allows leaders and boards to ask important questions without the pressure of an immediate decision: Where are our missions aligned? What strengths could we bring to one another? Where might there be duplication? What would our communities gain? What concerns would need to be addressed?

Bring the right people to the table

Successful collaboration requires more than an agreement between executive directors. Boards, staff, funders, clients or community members may have perspectives that could inform the conversation. Leaders should create space for open discussion. What might each organization gain—and what might it need to give up? How would decision-making work? What cultural differences could create challenges? What would success look like?

Strategic alliances are often considered only when organizations face financial challenges, leadership transitions, or other pressures. Boards are encouraged to begin these conversations earlier, when there is time for thoughtful analysis and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Make collaboration part of strategic thinking

For nonprofit leaders and boards, periodically asking “Who could we accomplish more with?” can be as valuable as asking “What should we accomplish next?”

Partnership isn’t necessarily a sign that an organization cannot stand on its own. Sometimes, it is a sign of strategic maturity: recognizing that the greatest opportunity for mission impact may lie not in doing more alone, but in finding the right partners to do more together.

Exploring collaboration before crisis gives nonprofits something every organization needs when facing change: options.

Strategic Consulting & Coaching, LLC brings extensive experience in successfully guiding organizations through strategic collaborations. Please reach out if you have questions.

Sources & Further Reading

• BoardSource. Strategic Alliances of Nonprofits

• BoardSource. The Power of Possibility

• The Bridgespan Group. Read Partnerships and Collaboration