Increasing the Capacity of Individuals, Families and Communities

Establishing Partnerships

Managing Partnerships | Summary

Examples of Effective Partnerships

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Clemson University²²
The third example is the multitude of partnerships formed by the Center for Grassroots & Nonprofit Leadership at Clemson University. The South Carolina Center for Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership seeks to actively build capacity and enhance resources of community and faith-based grassroots groups, nonprofit organizations and individuals who are challenged to provide leadership and to improve community life. It does this through high quality, community-focused education and practical research, problem-solving, technical assistance and information dissemination.

They strive to formulate relationships with FBOs, foundations and sub-awardees through the compassion project to create future opportunities to serve the targeted service populations collectively by leveraging resources. They have created over 250 partnerships with nonprofit, grass-roots, FBCOs, state agencies, libraries, National Guard teleconferencing facilities (16), SC Educational TV, Technical Education Colleges and foundations to create a service delivery infrastructure to diffuse knowledge, information and services over the past four years. Their focus has included creating relationships with foundations that have a spectrum of services/needs. Relationships with these types of organizations provided the University with insight from those who knew the territory and could help in understanding the culture of the target populations.

Initially, they worked with three foundations (family & community) and United Way capacity-building grants using a targeted giving strategy that was directed at named service populations in the Compassion Project in order to obtain a match. In the second year, they selected foundations (three community and one statewide) that:

• Contributed $50,000 (as the University did);
• Provided statewide coverage; and,
• Would collaborate in solicitation, selection and award/distribution of sub-awards.

Clemson University also used other existing and recently developed relationships to enhance the work of the partnership. Examples include:

• Securing content experts for technical assistance
• Identifying infrastructure partners for service and information delivery
• Using United Way offices statewide to "get the word out"
• Providing technical & computing tools to focus on rural areas statewide (e.g., used educational TV downlinks to reach over 1,200 participants in live audiences with facilitators)

They also created by-products in the form of videotapes and content materials that were distributed statewide to libraries, foundations, United Way Offices and First Steps (46 county offices).

Clemson University created six video capacity-building kits with associated content materials, and they reinforced learning online by providing additional information and resources associated with content areas on their website.

In regards to management, they developed clear expectations in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties as to activities and timing of those activities. Also, they created relationships with new partners that were previously competitive with the organization as they learned to work together for a common purpose. According to the University, the partnerships work because:

1. They clearly set up expectations
2. They are very firm about meeting these expectations
3. Quality service is delivered on time and within budget

One effective practice that enables these successes is the understanding that while organizations have different approaches, they can achieve the same results. Also, this common purpose breeds an effective practice of collaboration and cooperation. Finally, a partnership is a give and take relationship (much like marriage or other business commitments).

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Managing Partnerships | Summary