NONPROFIT COLLABORATION:

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

KATE DEWEYKATE SPHAR

AUGUST 30, 2011

Collaboration – Administrative or programmatic Administrative consolidation/shared services – Finance & accounting, human resources, IT, etc.

Management service organization – Creation of a new entity

Organizational integration – mergers, subsidiary relationships, etc.; when both programs and cultures are highly compatible

Types of Collaboration/Shared Services

The Collaborative Process

WHY?

Conduct Environment and Organizational

Assessment

Determine criteria for success

Determine key characteristics of

compatible partner

WHO?

Find the Partner

Analyze Compatibility of Culture

Build trust

Create a Shared Vision and Success

Metrics

Affirm buy-in to explore

WHAT?Organize Exploration

Process

Learn, Confirm, Affirm

Determine Desired Structure and Key

Characteristics

Conduct Legal and Financial Due

Diligence

Finalize Details, Draft Implementation Plan

and Budget

GO/NO GO

HOW?APPROVAL

SIGN & FILE DOCUMENTS

Build staff buy-in

Implement work plan

CELEBRATECOMMUNICATE

IMPLEMENT

How to Start the Conversation

With Your Board Chair?

With Your Board?

With Your Management Team?

Shortcuts to Avoid

Abbreviating the process because you think you have found “the one”

Skimping on outside experts (legal, financial, facilitation)

Forgetting the importance of your communication strategy (internal and external)

Reminders

Put your assumptions about what you hope you achieve through an alliance down on paper

Be honest about your organizations assets and liabilities

Address the tough issues as they surface Make sure your assumptions are shared by your

board Plan for the heavy lifting during the exploration

and implementation For every month you explore it takes two months

to implement

About Dewey & Kaye

About Dewey & Kaye

THANK YOU!

April 6, 2010