Establishing Effective Partnerships
Description
To tackle the world’s most difficult development challenges, nonprofit organizations cannot work
alone. Strong partnerships--working relationships with other organizations, businesses,
government agencies, or international agencies--are necessary to create sustainable social
change. Yet getting different groups of people to agree to a single plan is no simple task: it
requires tact, creativity, and skill.
This course provides frameworks, guidelines, and tools to help you establish effective
partnerships. From identifying potential partners to signing partnering agreements, you will learn
how to navigate the initial stages of the partnering process. Along the way, you will meet expert
practitioners, apply practical tools to your own work, and practice your negotiation skills.
Course Topics:
• Module 1: What Kind of Partnership Do I Need?
Approach new partnerships strategically
• Module 2: Who Should I Partner With?
Identify and assess potential partners
• Module 3: How Do I Build a Strong Relationship?
Build strong, productive relationships
• Module 4: Which Processes Should I Use?
Co-create strategic partnering agreements
Curriculum
Module 1: What Kind of Partnership Do I Need?
Recommended Schedule: Complete by Week 1
Description: In this first module, you will explore your organization’s context to discover whether a
partnering approach is right for you.
Assignment: Partnership Opportunity Analysis
Module 2: Who Should I Partner With?
Recommended Schedule: Complete by Week 2
Description: To build a successful partnership, you will need to carefully select the most
appropriate partner. This module provides tools and techniques for identifying and assessing
potential partners.
Assignment: Stakeholder Mapping
Module 3: How Do I Build a Strong Relationship?
Recommended Schedule: Complete by Week 3
Description: An effective partnership requires a strong relationship between the individuals and
organizations working together. In this module, you will explore the principles that create
productive relationships and learn negotiation techniques that build trust, goodwill, and wise
agreements.
Assignment: Interest-Based Negotiation
Module 4: Which Processes Should I Use?
Recommended Schedule: Complete by Week 4
Description: To begin a partnership, you first need to reach agreement about the work you will
accomplish together. In this final module, you will learn how to work with your new partner to
create a stellar partnering agreement.
Assignment: Governance Structure
Instructor
The Partnering Initiative
The Partnering Initiative is a leading independent not-for-profit dedicated to unleashing the power
of partnership for a prosperous and sustainable future. TPI’s work is aimed at defining and
strengthening the enabling system that allows partnerships to thrive: encouraging supportive
international and national policy; building platforms and other mechanisms in-country to catalyze
partnerships; and supporting organizations to maximize the potential of partnerships by becoming
more strategic and institutionally set up to collaborate through its Fit for Partnering approach. TPI’s
training, advisory services and suite of internationally renowned tools and guidebooks accompany
individuals, partnerships and organizations in that journey.
Certification
The University is a non-degree, diploma or credit granting initiative. Philanthropy U, Inc. is the
concept developer and sponsor of the initiative. Learners are not entitled to earn college or other
academic credit.
Learners are eligible to receive a Certificate of Achievement for this course. To earn a Certificate
of Achievement for this course, you need to earn more than 50% of possible points on quizzes
and assignments to obtain a passing grade. Quizzes are worth 15% of your total score, while
assignments are worth 85%.