Alliance for Nonprofit Management Conference August 3, 2:15-5:15 Collaboration Track

1. Alliance for Nonprofit Management ConferenceAugust 3, 2:15-5:15Collaboration Track Forming Alliances: Ways to Support NPOs in Working Together to Achieve Mutual Goals Emil W. Angelicaemil.angelica@ccgpartnership.com www.ccgpartnership.com 612-926-0122

2. Based on…Forming Alliances:Working Together to Achieve Mutual GoalsAuthors: Linda Hoskins and Emil Angelica Published by Fieldstone Alliance, Inc.

3. Agenda • Introductions • Questions/Challenges • The “Alliance Continuum” • When smaller is better • The process • Tools You Can Use

4. Exercise: • What Questions Do You Have? • Challenges Would You Like Us To Discuss?

5. An alliance is a relationship between partners that is strategically formed to accomplish goals benefit the community strengthen the partners Define Alliance

6. The Alliance Continuum Lower Intensity Higher Intensity Cooperation Coordination Collaboration

7. Cooperation shorter-term, informal relationships shared information only separate goals, resources and structures The “Intensity” of Alliances Coordination • longer-term effort around a project or task • some planning and division of roles • some shared resources, rewards and risk Collaboration • more durable and pervasive relationships • new structure with commitment to common goals • all partners contribute resources and share rewards & leadership

8. Concerns in Collaborations • Expensive • Slow to start-up • Loss of control • Damage to reputation • Loss of opportunity

9. Cooperation shorter-term, informal relationships shared information only separate goals, resources and structures The “Intensity” of Alliances Coordination • longer-term effort around a project or task • some planning and division of roles • some shared resources, rewards and risk Collaboration • more durable and pervasive relationships • new structure with commitment to common goals • all partners contribute resources and share rewards & leadership

10. Benefits of Lower Intensity • Increased control and resources • Lower risk and fewer resources required • Can test out relationship building • Can do more of them at one time • Quick to start up

11. Exercise: Alliances you have known • Identify some alliances in which you have been engaged • Using the Alliance Chart (page 2), plot them and consider if they were the right level to accomplish the desired outcome

12. Alliance Process Flow Framing and Formalizing With Partners Idea Generation Individually Implementation With Partners

13. Steps in Forming An Alliance Step 1 Clarify the Purpose Step 2 Identify and Recruit Partners Step 5 Implement and Manage Step 3 Frame the Alliance Step 4 Formalize the Structure & Plan

14. Range of Roles in Alliances Convener Facilitator Fiscal Agent Funder Initiator Project Manager

15. Step 1.Clarify the purpose Begin by answering the following questions (page 4): • If we only had ______, we could ________. • What do we have to offer a partner? • What role will we play?

16. Consultant Role • Get involved more at the front end: • Back office alliance • Joint trainings • Joint planning • Raise alliance as a strategy • Play a role in brainstorming • Don’t give up easily

17. Step 2. Identify and recruit partners (page 5) • Who might be interested in the concept? • Who needs what we can offer? • Who has the skills, capabilities, or assets we need? • Who should we work with for political or resources reasons?

18. Consultant Role • Serve as a broker between partners • Help participants engage with potential funder if appropriate • Find ways to demonstrate benefits • Support leadership in taking risks

19. Begin the conversation with partners in these areas: (Worksheet 1: page 6) History of the idea and possible mission or purpose Two or three key outcomes First steps or strategies Resources Possible show stoppers Step 3. Frame the Alliance

20. Consultant Role • Bring new ideas to the table • Intersection of missions • New look at target population • Provide ways to think about new strategies/models • Move away from one-to-one • Use technology to move toward one-to-one • Provide for follow-along

21. Step 4. Formalize the Structure Formalize the structure with: • Timeframe • Decision making • Communications • Stakeholders • Draft budget

22. Consultant Role • Make certain that the intensity level is right for the project • Err on the side of less is better especially if this is a first for the partners • Help think through a budget that makes sense

23. Step 5. Implement and Manage • Develop a work plan • Schedule regular partner meetings • Evaluate outcomes periodically • Listen to and act on community input • Celebrate successes!

24. Consultant Role • Look for quick/little successes • Stay connected to help coach at the beginning • Help them get feedback

25. Check-in and Adjourn • What are the 1-2 major learnings that you are taking away from this session? • How are you going to apply your ideas? • Suggestions for our next training?

26. Alliance for Nonprofit Management ConferenceAugust 3, 2:15-5:15Collaboration Track Forming Alliances: Ways to Support NPOs in Working Together to Achieve Mutual Goals Emil W. Angelicaemil.angelica@ccgpartnership.com www.ccgpartnership.com 612-926-0122