Effective Collaboration
Maria FabulaPresident & Chief Executive Officer
Carlton MasonExecutive Director, CASA of the 7th Judicial
Presented by:
• Introductions• Who is in the Room?• Continuum of Collaboration• Strategies for Getting Started• Avoiding Pitfalls
AgendaCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• Name• Title• Organization
Introductions
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Nonprofits will share resources, information, and opportunities with other partners to increase each other’s ability to accomplish mission and serve their constituency.
We will use the term to indicate all manner of alliance – from cooperation to merger.
What is a Strategic Alliance?
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Continuum of Alliances
Cooperation and
CoordinationCollaboration Partnership Merger
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• Initiate and promote cooperation and coordination among a variety of entities to maximize available resources to communities they serve.
• Align decisions with the strategic goals of an organization and should impact the brand and image of the organization positively.
What can we do better together than we can each do alone?
Cooperation & CoordinationCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Who might you develop strategic alliances with?•Chapters or affiliates •Similar or complementary organizations •Groups of nonprofits •Public/private/nonprofit partnerships •Assisting other nonprofits
CoordinationCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Pros• Natural extension of a working relationship• Low cost and low maintenance• Informal-can be short or long termCons• Can be dependent on personal relationships• Lack of clarity can lead to crossed wires• Relationship may not feel balanced
Inside Coordination/Cooperation
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• Seek out organizations that serve the same constituency
• Find organizations that provide similar services• Research other organizations that seek similar
solutions to problems• Brainstorm to determine what could be the
result of collaboration• Develop a list of who has the power
to strengthen or destroy this effort
Creating OpportunitiesCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• When you have a specific purpose or goal that can best be achieved through clear joint effort
• When there is the capacity for mutual cooperation and responsibility
• When including new perspectives may help you to understand core problems and invent possible new solutions
• When you need a broader audience (and influencers) than you typically work with, to understand the issues and participate in the solution process
When to CollaborateCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Pros• Have adequate structure to promote efficiency• Yet retain informality (MOU rather than contract)• Flexible: short- or long-term in natureCons• Determining equal capacity or lead can be tricky• Ownership issues with joint product/materials• Joint responsibility can be fraught by human nature
Inside CollaborationCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• Learn about each other’s culture for committing time and resources, adopting changes, and making decisions
• Learn to listen and keep track of key points
• Expect problems and deal with them
• Address the failures – analyze them and determine how you might adapt the process to reach objectives
• Celebrate every success
Getting Started in Partnership
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• Each organization has something of value to contribute
• Trust is, or can be, established with this organization
• Each is willing to contribute time, talent, and fiscal resources to make the partnership or shared program work
• The partner organizations both have community support
• There is commitment to the shared project
Analyzing ValueCommunity Resource Center
Success Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Pros• Leverages multiple talents/resources on single issue • Larger strategic impact and implications
Cons• Often represents significant allocation of resources• Generally requires long-term effort• Formal relationship requires foresight
Inside Partnerships
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
• Things to watch for• Stakeholders cannot agree on the purpose of the
partnership
• One organization does not have the resources to devote
• Community perception issues with one partner that might color success of programs and results in a negative manner
• Difficulties with communication
• Leadership of the partners not committed to the alliance
Analyzing Value
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
ImplementationNegotiationAssessment Resolution AgreementLegal Resolution
Integration
Strategic Restructuring - Merger
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Pros• Comprehensive service delivery• Increased market share• More political and economic clout• More career paths for employeesCons• Complex process takes time• Turmoil associated with restructuring• Merging healthy organizations is ideal, but real?
Strategic Restructuring - Merger
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
The process of establishing a strong merger takes time. A merger can take 18-24 months
• Assessment (3-6 months)• Negotiation (4-8 months)• Integration (6-10 months)
Timing
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Strategic alliances that have worked for your organization in the past
Strategic alliances you would like to find for your organization now.
Questions?
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
1. Why are we looking at an alliance now?
2. What do we want to achieve from the alliance?
3. Is an alliance the best way for us to achieve our goals?
4. What resources are we willing to commit to this relationship in terms of dollars and staff time?
5. How is our association most comfortable in the creation of alliance relationships?
6. How much control are we willing to cede to an alliance partner?
If you are comfortable with your responses to these questions, then continuing down the path of establishing a strategic alliance is appropriate.
-Successfully Establishing and Managing Strategic Alliances
Organizational Readiness
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Things to consider…..• The Alliance Idea• Your Mission• People, Structure, Capacity & Timing• The Partner Organization• External Stakeholders• Design of the scope of work
Avoiding Pitfalls
Community Resource CenterSuccess Strategies for Colorado Nonprofits
Final Questions?
THANK YOU!Presented by:
Maria FabulaPresident & CEO
Carlton MasonExecutive Director, CASA of the 7th Judicial District
www.crcamerica.org
