[TULSA] Strategic Partnerships: Building Strong Collaborations

No effective nonprofit operates "on an island". The most successful organizations know how to build strategic partnerships that amplify impact, share resources, and tackle complex challenges together, but not all partnerships are created equal; some energize your work while others drain resources and create frustration. How do you identify the right partners? How do you structure collaborations for mutual benefit? How do you navigate inevitable conflicts and sustain partnerships over time? This course provides a roadmap for building and maintaining strategic partnerships that strengthen your organization and advance your mission. You'll learn to assess partnership readiness, negotiate agreements, and create collaborative structures that truly deliver results.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify potential partners whose missions, values, and strengths align with organizational goals
• Assess organizational readiness for partnership and determine appropriate collaboration structures
• Negotiate partnership agreements that clearly define roles, responsibilities, resources, and decision-making authority
• Build trust and maintain effective communication across organizational boundaries
• Navigate partnership challenges including power imbalances, resource inequities, and mission drift
• Evaluate partnership effectiveness and make strategic decisions about continuing, modifying, or ending collaborations