Joanne Sonenshine

Utilizing Partnerships:Leverage Your Role for Greater Impact Within Your Organization

Joanne SonenshineSeptember 6, 2018

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Today We’ll Cover…

• How to prioritize organizational needs and challenges.

• How to determine where partnerships can aid in goal

attainment, and when to move past non-functioning

partnerships.

• A tested method for identifying new partners, measuring

partnership efficacy, and ensuring roles are defined.

• How to make our 6-step approach work for you,

regardless of your individual role.

3www.connectiveimpact.com

OURPHILOSOPHYAs our planet approaches its limits of water

availability, food production and population

growth, urgent action to improve how we utilize

resources and advance economically is critical.

Connective Impact keeps commitments on track

and brings like-minded organizations

together to make progress effective and lasting.


Introduction• WCAS ‘99 – Economics Major, Art History Minor

• Nearly two decades of experience with nonprofits, public and private sector

• Author of Changeseekers: Finding Your Path to Impact

• Founded Connective Impact to fill the strategic partnership gap

• Created a six-step partnership methodology for sustainable impact

• Development economist focused on social and environmental sustainability



Why Partner?

* Specific indicators available at: https://unstats.un.org


Evolution of Partnershipsto achieve social, environmental and economic

development goals

Make money, operate in a vacuum

Protests = environmental and

social change

1980s

Follow mandates of governments

Early 1990s First NGO/Company

partnerships form as companies begin to take

heat

Early 2000s

Collaboration=the new normal

Last 5 years Collective Impact/

Evolution of B Corp.

Today


In 1991 – the world of partnerships changed forever.One company decided to make a

change that ultimately led us down

the path of corporate sustainability

and societal change.


1991

New packaging helped eliminated more than 300 million pounds of packaging over the course of the next decade.

McDonald’s also saved an estimated $6 million per year.

makeit.com

How to Create Your Partnership Strategy

REFINE ORGANIZATION GOALS & EVALUATE PARTNERSHIPS

Identify organizational goals through a series of targeted questions and interviews with staff members. Clarify priorities, challenges and opportunities.

DETERMINE TOP STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Present summary of strategic partners willing and open to partnership opportunities. Lead introductions and dialogue.

JOIN PARTNERS FOR MUTUAL GOAL DEVELOPMENT

Identify collaborative goals through facilitated dialogue for shared implementation among partners.

IDENTIFY IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Determine roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder and identify set of implementing partners if necessary.

MONITOR PROGRESS

Apply Connective Impact’s partnership evaluation methodology to monitor progress of each step towards the collaborative goals defined.

REDEVELOP & REDEFINE

Apply a systemic approach to resource management to reduce uncertaintywhen repeating the process.

Visit connectiveimpact.com/downloads for a selection of these materials

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Is your current approach to addressing [topic, goal, commitment] working well? If not, what could be improved?

Which element of [topic, goal, commitment] do you believe should be top priority? Which should be lowest priority?

Where are there opportunities for advancement that have not been addressed?

What are the greatest challenges in managing [topic, goal, commitment]?

Step One:Refine Organization Goals and Evaluate PartnershipsIdentify 10-12 decision makers from different parts of your organization and address the following:

Where are partnerships currently helping you address [topic, goal, commitment]? Where could new partnerships add value?

Do you have a clear sense of not only your immediate role and eco-system but your organization too? Who can you turn to for support & championing?


Solutions for Collecting Participant Data

Survey tool like Survey Monkey

Facilitator like Connective Impact

Board member or other staff person unaffected by priority

setting

Questions should not take more than 30 minutes

to answer in total

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Step Two: Determine Top Strategic Partners

For example if your goal is:

(1) Fundraising: explore the universe of donors and

foundations

(2) Project Implementation: seek local partners

(3) Operational efficiencies: work with your suppliers,

competitors, and the government


Step Three:Connect To Partners For Mutual Goal Development

Government donors

Competitors

Suppliers and Supplier Partners

Nonprofits (local, national, international)

Universities

Grant Programs

Accelerators

Social Entrepreneurs

Financial Institution

Foundations


Making a Match

Email introductions

Face-to-face meetings

Connector

Surveys

Hosted conference/convening


Consider timeline, budget, and assignments for goal delivery,

Comparative advantage: evaluate your organization’s strength vs your partners’,

Determine the intersections through dialogue and agreement,

Monitor progress (and challenges) and adapt as you go.

Step Four:Partner Implementation And Role Assignment

Remember why you are partnering by keeping impact and people served in sight,


Identify mutually agreed upon quantitative & qualitative metrics for evaluation,

Share your success stories.

Develop easy to implementing monitoring techniques,

Steps Five & Six: Monitor Progress and Redevelop As Needed

Redefine 6-18 months to ensure everyone is working towards the same goals, roles, budgets and timelines still relevant and remain intact,

makeit.com

How to Monitor Efficacy of Partnerships

1. Is there clear mutual benefit?

2. Is the partnership vision clear?

3. Are there clear, measurable goals for each element of the partnership?

4. Are you developing co-messaging / co-branding opportunities?

5. Can you leverage additional funding through this partnership?

connectiveimpact.com/tools


Thank You!

QUESTIONS?Joanne Sonenshine

[email protected]

http://www.connectiveimpact.com

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Joanne Sonenshine