Making Collaboration Work: Advice From Experts

A new report by the Bridgespan Group finds that collaboration is a central strategy for charities that are managing to serve more clients despite a bleak revenue outlook. The authors, Alan Tuck and Sarah Sable, offered the following advice to charities that are considering collaborating with others:

• Check to be sure the two organizations have a culture fit.
• Don’t do it only for the money. If it’s simply a joint grant application, don’t try to dress it up as a strategic collaboration.
• Employees directly involved in the collaborations should be relatively high level, with the authority to make decisions.
• Don’t let potential conflicts simmer. Agree upfront that if the collaboration runs into problems, both sides will get their executive directors involved.