8 Tips to Begin Collaboration Discussions with a Potential Partner
Tips for how to begin a conversation for a potential partnership, collaboration, or merger.
Have the end in mind. Does the potential partner have something we want now? Does the potential partner have something that works and would take too long or be too expensive to build? Are we about to do something that will segment the field or produce more competition? Do we have something that others covet? Is our physical footprint too small?
Lunch date. Take a fellow CEO/President to lunch, and simply ask the question, "What could we do better together?"
Match up a foursome. Two CEOs/Presidents and two Board Chairs/Vice Chairs meet for a drink where you offer the opportunity to begin discussions of a potential partnership asking, "How would it benefit those we serve and are we a good match?"
Let a volunteer lead the way. Discuss potential collaboration opportunities with your board leaders, and have one representative meet their peer for coffee to talk about how mission impact might grow if we worked together.
Host a "neighborhood party". Invite several representatives from another organization, or several organizations, to a casual breakfast meeting where each group shares best practices and identifies opportunities for greater impact or effectiveness.
Third party approach. Regardless of the outcome, preserving and protecting your relationship with peers is important. Having a third party reach out to potential partners on your behalf removes much of the risk.
Listen to funders and supporters. If you and another organization are poised to collaborate, chances are that a current funder/supporter already knows this and is in a good position to begin the discussion as they may ultimately benefit.
Consider the messenger. Many of our impressions of collaboration come from the for-profit world, where discussions of this nature start off territorial. In the case of nonprofits, the purpose for our collaboration is greater mission impact. Therefore, it's important to set a non-threatening, collaborative tone from the start. Who begins that conversation and what they say/ask is critical to moving forward successfully.
Connect with McCormick Group to learn more about how to engage, what to do beforehand and what pitfalls to avoid. McCormick Group has helped more than 300 nonprofits advance missions and safeguard survival in a radically changing philanthropic environment. Our approach is transparent and considerate, guiding organizations to realize healthy growth.