Building a Partnership / Key Elements

Collaborations and partnerships are most successful when all organizations do the following:

• Have similar organizational missions—and mutual goals.
• Have a shared vision for the collaboration—for how it will progress and what it will achieve. Collaborations and partnerships that strive to fulfill a vision are more likely to produce far-reaching, lasting, community-supported change than those that attempt to solve a problem.
• Outline a distinct purpose for the collaboration or partnership that is different from, but connected to, their individual missions.
• Set specific, attainable, measurable goals.
• Dedicate time to develop the relationship and build trust among the individuals who are running the collaboration. Building relationships is key to collaborations’ success.
• Communicate often and well, through formal and informal channels, to promote understanding.
  
• Clearly understand their roles and responsibilities, and set clear expectations of one another.
  
• Fulfill their responsibilities—contribute to the relationship and share with one another.
  
• Respect each other and resolve conflict constructively.
  
• Commit to a long-term relationship.
  
• Devote skilled, committed leaders to the collaboration who are willing to take risks and promote change.
  
• Involve key players in decisions, giving them a sense of ownership, which heightens buy-in within the organizations.
  
• Commit the funds and time needed for the collaboration’s projects.
  
• Celebrate when one goal is achieved—then move on to the next.