Insight

Collaborating for a cause: Nonprofit alliances

Countless nonprofits have partnered up for strength and survival in recent years. But the success of these arrangements depends on careful planning and oversight.

Types of partnering

There are many types of partnership arrangements between nonprofit organizations. But the two terms you’ll hear most often are:

1. Strategic alliance. This is a blanket term typically used to represent a wide range of affiliations. A strategic alliance can involve a relationship with another nonprofit, a for-profit or a governmental entity. Such alliances can take the form of joint programming, collective impact collaborations, cost sharing and many other arrangements.

2. Joint venture. A joint venture is a specific type of strategic alliance involving a contractual arrangement with another nonprofit, a for-profit entity or a governmental agency. The two entities become engaged in a solitary enterprise without incorporating or forming a legal partnership. A joint venture is otherwise similar to a business partnership, except that the relationship typically has a single focus and is often temporary.

No matter what type of alliance you make, many of the considerations are the same. To select the appropriate partnership model, examine your motivation for linking up. Do you want to save money by sharing administrative expenses? Will the union enable you to expand your reach? Will the collaboration involve a single initiative or involve multiple projects over a long period?

Perfect pairing

The best alliances involve partners with similar goals and expectations — including financial ones. Ask, for example, whether your prospective collaborator has the necessary means. An alliance between a nonprofit and another entity, regardless of type, is like any business partnership: Your partner should have a good net asset balance and be able to live up to its financial commitments.

Then make sure your values align. Does the entity have similar business ethics and strong internal controls? Two working as one requires openness and trust between the parties. Remember, you’ll be sharing credit and responsibility.

Also ask how past donors — particularly corporate donors — will feel about your alliance. Be prepared to explain your newly defined or broadened target groups and causes.

Ready to roll

If your nonprofit has shied away from alliances because you safeguard your autonomy, it may be time to reconsider. Just be sure to choose your partner carefully. Once you have an objective and organization in mind, we can perform a cost analysis to make sure that any financial expectations are on track.

© 2018

Related Insights

Guaranteeing a loan to your corporation? There may be tax implications | business consulting and accounting services in harford county | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Management Advisory Services & Business Consulting

Guaranteeing a loan to your corporation? There may be tax implications

Let’s say you decide to, or are asked to, guarantee a loan to your corporation. Before agreeing to act as a guarantor, endorser or indemnitor…
Divorcing business owners should pay attention to the tax consequences | business consulting services in cecil county md | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Management Advisory Services & Business Consulting

Divorcing business owners should pay attention to the tax consequences

If you’re getting a divorce, you know the process is generally filled with stress. But if you’re a business owner, tax issues can complicate…
Receive more than $10,000 in cash at your business? Here’s what you must do | business consulting and accounting services in hunt valley md | Weyrich, Cronin & Sorra

Management Advisory Services & Business Consulting

Receive more than $10,000 in cash at your business? Here’s what you must do

Does your business receive large amounts of cash or cash equivalents? If so, you’re generally required to report these transactions to the…

Connect with us

Use the form below to send us an email. WCS responds directly to all inquiries and general questions within 24 hours of posting.

This contact form is deactivated because you refused to accept Google reCaptcha service which is necessary to validate any messages sent by the form.