At MCF’s program last week on the 2009 funding outlook for Minnesota, grantmakers and grantseekers in the social services sector spent a good deal of time discussing collaboration and mergers. Are these strategies (part of) a solution to the limited grant dollars available during tough economic times? Do they allow organizations to have greater impact? Or are they held out as a panacea, when the practical reality is that mergers and collaborations require a great deal of time and resources to be effective (and who’s got extra of either right now)?
Overwhelmingly, conference participants called for more information: examples of successful collaborations, best practices, and nuts and bolts guidance on how to partner and merge. As well they should …
A quick scan of what resources are available online on nonprofit collaboration shows … not a whole lot. David La Piana, an expert on nonprofit management, has conducted groundbreaking research on strategic restructuring. His research includes information on different types of strategic relationships, as well as survey findings on the benefits and challenges of different types of collaborations.
Several local agencies are also working to expand the knowledge base on nonprofit mergers and collaborations, including MAP for Nonprofits’ Project ReDesign and Greater Twin Cities United Way. One thing to emerge from MCF’s program is the strong demand for these resources.
Know of high-quality resources, information, or best practices on nonprofit mergers? Please share them here.
- Juliana Tillema, MCF’s research manager
As Rebecca said, The Lodestar Foundation has many resources on our site. I would also suggest looking at http://www.thecollaborationprize.org, where we have already posted initial data analysis, with a searchable database of collaboration models coming in June.
For resources on nonprofit mergers, I recommend the Lode Star Foundation website at http://www.lodestarfoundation.org/collaboration_resources.html.
We do have an expert in collaboration in our community. Paul Mattesich, Ex.Director of Wilder Research. He has written books on it and traveled globally teaching it.
In January I had him do a 3 hour workshop for the United Ways of Minnesota on collaboration – it was excellent.