What do we then put in place to ensure that a partnership is successful? Let’s look at a few key ideas.
Making partnerships truly successful is like putting together a puzzle, you need to think ahead, talk with each other, make clear plans, keep checking how things are going, and always remember what you want to achieve in the end. As you embark on the journey of forming and nurturing partnerships, there are pivotal steps to consider, each essential in their own right:
Do the partnering organisations have a shared commitment to common ministry purposes, constituents, and guiding principles for how they approach their work? Will their cultures work well in combination? Do they share a mutual passion for a common cause?
Do the partnering organisations have the resources to be sustaining contributors to the collaboration, for example, in leadership capacity and/or financial strength? Does each have a healthy board and sustaining approach to governance?
Does each of the partnering organisations have strong and trusted standing with external constituents, such as donors and foundations, the ministry constituents they serve, others with whom they partner, and/or the general public? Will the connection between the partnering organisations be seen as a positive, ministry-advancing development for all involved?
Do each of the partnering organisations bring material and comparable contributions to the table in ways that contribute to their common objectives? Is their geographic scope complementary? Will true partnership be possible, or is it possible that differences in scale could create unhealthy imbalance across the partnership?
Is each partnering organisation clear about the ministry impact it is seeking to achieve, through God’s grace and support? Does each have a track record for delivering such results? Is each committed to pursuing partnership as a means for faithful stewardship, potentially achieving more together than either party could do alone?
Do the partnering organisations share a common and resilient commitment to the partnership over its envisioned lifespan? Are they willing to share resources, wisdom, information, and external relationships in ways that further the purposes of the partnership?