Assessing your organization’s potential for partnerships
Abstract
Leveraging additional volunteers within the communities they serve is a practical way of expanding volunteer programs, especially by building partnerships with community service organizations (CSO) to create volunteer projects. This effective practice, submitted by Hands On Network in August 2006, walks programs through an analysis of scope, capacity, and needs that should be understood before attempting to forge relationships with potential partners.Issue
Establishing partnerships can be difficult if programs have not determined what they have to offer as well as what they need from the alliance.Action
If you are seeking to build partnerships with community service organizations (CSOs) to create projects that meet the needs of your community, begin by taking the following steps:
Define specific goals.
Determine the scope of your program and the projects you want to undertake, as this will dictate the type of partnership you need to accomplish those goals. When selecting a service project, pay attention to the following:
- Time required to complete the project
- Overall scope of the project
- Diversity of volunteers who can be involved
- Cost of producing the project
- Weather impact
- Accessibility to buildings and facilities
Understand your organization's capacity.
Before considering a partnership with a particular CSO, carefully consider what you want, what you need, and what you can offer.
- What resources do you have (i.e., volunteers, tools/materials, specialists, consultants)?
- To what types of need would you be willing to respond (i.e., operational, client services, grounds and building refurbishing)?
- What kind of impact do you need the project to have to feel like it's worth your investment of time?
- How will your volunteers experience the project?
- How can the partnership be developed for short- and long-term success?
Assess your needs.
As you spell out your volunteer-engagement goals and objectives, consider how your program will evolve over time. You can do this by identifying and determining your needs.
- Determine the number of volunteers you need and important factors such as age limit, skill level, and time commitment.
- Outline the tangible resources you need, such as supplies, materials, goods, and services.
- Define the funding you have or will need to complete the volunteer projects.
Map the assets in your community.
Resource mapping (or asset mapping) is the process of identifying what is valuable in your community and developing strategies for mobilizing those resources. Look for community assets such as individuals, associations, institutions, corporations, in-kind donations, and physical space.
Identify potential partners.
After you consider what you have to offer a partner, what you need from a partner, and the assets available in your community, identify CSOs as potential partners.
Context
Hands On Network is a training and technical assistance provider to programs funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Through training and technical assistance, Hands On brings extensive expertise in leveraging volunteers to national service programs.Outcome
Organizations that follow these steps will:- Define program's scope
- Understand organization's capacity
- Assess program's needs
- Map community resources
- Identify potential partners
Posted On
September 19, 2006For More Information
Resources
This is the first effective practice in a series on volunteer leveraging contributed by the Hands On Network. To read the next effective practice in this series, see "Assessing potential partnerships with community-based organizations."
See the following resources for more information: