How, Exactly, Does a “Public-Private Partnership” Work?

“Public-private partnership” is a favorite buzzword in philanthropy, particularly now that the Obama administration has voiced a commitment to working alongside foundations and nonprofit groups.

But what do such partnerships among governments, businesses, foundations, and charities look like? And how can philanthropists create or participate in such efforts?

Jean Case, who runs the Case Foundation, with her husband Steve discussed those questions at a session today along with Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute, and Shelly M. Esque, vice president of legal and corporate affairs with the Intel Corporation.

The three described their work as part of the U.S. Palestinian Partnership, an effort started in 2007 to expand economic and educational opportunities for Palestinians. The effort was one of about four large “public-private partnerships” started by Condoleezza Rice, when she was Secretary of State, and other government officials, said Mr. Isaacson, but the only one that survives today.

Mr. Isaacson said the partnership has focused on two things: giving medium-sized loans to businesses in the Palestinian Territories and developing youth centers in the West Bank. The effort has attracted financial and technology help from not only Intel, but Cisco, Google, Microsoft, and other companies, he said.

Mr. Isaacson said the new administration ought to seek to use a similar approach elsewhere. “We hope this can be a template, whether you’re working in Nairobi or Palestine or anywhere in the world,” he said.

Asked why the U.S. Palestinian Partnership has generated support while the other attempts at public-private partnerships foundered, Mr. Isaacson credited Ms. Case’s “persistence” in recruiting corporations. He also said that donors who want to get involved in this kind of work have to be risk takers who are willing to look at long-term results, not those achieved in the short term.

Several people in the audience pointed out that the notion of “public-private partnership” is nothing new. But some nonprofit officials in the audience, as well as the panelists, said they sensed the new administration would be particularly open and committed to working with nonprofit officials and businesses.