1 Partnerships & Collaborations “PAINTING THE PICTURE” Proposal Writing Workshop Maryland Community Health Resources Commission September 16, 2008

2 First, Let’s Clarify Terms  Partnership  A legal relation existing between two or more persons contractually associated as joint principals in a business  Collaboration  To labor together  To cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected

3 Relevance to Proposal Writing……..  Requests for Proposals (RFP/RFI/RFA) increasingly require evidence of partnerships or collaborations  Demonstrates community engagement/sensitivity  Increases potential for programmatic sustainability  Integrates business, government & non-profits to address community needs  Good “Business”  Enriches the “pool” of management & program skills available as resources to program  Creates new avenues for financing & sustainability  Broadens network - increases community awareness of program

4 Partnership? Collaboration?  Considerations  Terms and conditions for each are very different, consider which type of relationship meets organization’s needs  Tolerance for engagement may dictate whether you form an partnership or collaborative arrangement  Willing to share decision-making, resources, credit? (C&P)  Organizational capacity to sustain shared losses? (P)  Do both organizations bring “equal value” to relationship?  Willing to share “public relations” with organization?

5 Importance to Non-Profits?  Good “Business”  Non-Profits Are Businesses  No Money - No Mission  Increased competition for funding - thousands of new non- profits are formed each year  Cuts in publicly-funded programs place more demands on non-profits’ resources  Complexity of today’s societal issues require the creativity, expertise & resources of both business community & human services industry

6 Factors Contributing to Success  Shared Vision  Clearly articulated “common cause”  Trust  Basis for a sound trust relationship  Open, candid, respectful communication  Clear expectations  Defined process to resolve conflicts  Commitment  Parties are committed to “making a difference”

7 Factors Contributing to Success  Shared Working Arrangements  Defined agreements for program governance, resource sharing, resource “calls”, etc.  Defined process to provide opportunity for all parties to contribute ideas, expertise & information  Strengths are leveraged to benefit the “greater good” – not any one person or organization  Provisions for resolution of issues & dissolution of relationship  Commit Arrangements to Writing  Engage legal counsel to ensure documents accurately reflect your intentions, expectations & language necessary to support relationship (or disengagement, if necessary)

8 Plan for the worst, expect the best! Questions? Discussion? Salliann Richardson Alborn, CEO Community Health Integrated Partnership 804 Landmark Drive, Suite 128 Glen Burnie, Maryland