Collaboration Over Competition
Encouraging Nonprofits to Work Together for Greater Impact
Recently, one of my clients hosted a summit that left me buzzing with ideas and inspiration. The summit focused on the cause they serve and brought together various service providers working in the same space. Their goal was twofold: educate the community and strengthen collaboration among the organizations serving the same population. The result? New ideas, fresh partnerships, stronger communication, and a shared vision for the community. It reminded me that when nonprofits collaborate, we achieve so much more.
In the U.S. alone, there are more than 1.5 million registered nonprofits addressing complex challenges from affordable housing and poverty to clean water and climate change. While we all work tirelessly to make progress, the problems often feel too big for any single organization to tackle alone. And when we operate in silos, driven by scarcity, it creates unnecessary competition that slows our progress.
At Sprout Fundraising & Consulting, I often emphasize the power of collaboration over competition. We need to shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance—because together, we can move mountains. Nonprofit collaboration isn't just a buzzword; it's an essential strategy for creating lasting change.
Scarcity Breeds Competition
Scarcity filters through nearly every aspect of the nonprofit world. Scarcity of consistent funding is the primary issue, and it impacts everything—from the ability to scale solutions to recruiting top talent. And perhaps the most damaging outcome of scarcity is how it sabotages collaboration. Instead of seeing potential partners, nonprofits often see competitors. But the truth is, if we hope to tackle the massive challenges facing our world, collaboration is not just helpful—it’s essential.
When organizations choose collaboration over competition, they unlock opportunities for bigger, systemic changes. Collaboration allows us to share resources, tap into each other’s strengths, and, ultimately, serve our communities more effectively. The power of collaboration isn’t a new concept—we see it working all around us: from special interest groups joining forces to advocate for policy change to community organizations aligning to combat local issues like crime or food insecurity. When we join forces, we create the potential for lasting impact.
Funders Favor Collaborative Efforts
Here’s something important to note: grant funders are increasingly prioritizing organizations that have established partnerships with others. Funders understand that nonprofits working together can accomplish more with their combined resources and expertise.
Collaboration allows funders to reduce risk and increase efficiency in their grants. By supporting partnerships, they ensure their investment stretches further, resulting in a broader and more sustainable impact. Some foundations even have collaborative grant programs that specifically reward partnerships, such as the MacArthur Foundation’s "100&Change" competition, which encourages organizations to form alliances to tackle global challenges.
Funders see the value in systemic change and know that collaborative efforts are often the best way to achieve it. If your nonprofit can demonstrate strong partnerships and a history of working collaboratively, you’ll not only make a greater impact—you’ll also be more attractive to funders looking to invest in solutions that last.
Why Should Nonprofits Collaborate?
There are plenty of reasons to prioritize collaboration in the nonprofit world, but two stand out:
Increased Efficiency and Effectiveness: Working together reduces duplication of services, streamlines processes, and allows you to reach more people with fewer resources. Collaboration is often the key to making your mission more impactful without overextending your team or budget.
Greater Impact for the Communities You Serve: At the end of the day, we all want to do more for the communities we serve. By working together, nonprofits can offer more comprehensive services, reach larger audiences, and tackle more complex issues. It’s the ultimate win-win.
How to Start Collaborating
So, how can you start fostering collaboration within your nonprofit network? Here are a few actionable ideas:
Start Small with Cooperation: Collaboration doesn’t have to mean jumping into a full-blown partnership overnight. Start by sharing resources—maybe it’s office space, software, or even employees. For example, if you can’t afford a full-time designer, why not team up with another nonprofit and make a joint hire? This is a low-stakes way to get the ball rolling.
Collaborate Through Your Missions and Programs: One of the most effective ways for nonprofits to collaborate is by partnering through their missions and complementary programs. For example, a homeless shelter might partner with a local food pantry, recovery programs, therapy and counseling providers, and low-cost or free medical providers. By joining forces, each organization can focus on what they do best while ensuring that individuals receive holistic, wrap-around care. This kind of partnership enhances the overall impact and provides more comprehensive services to those in need.
Plan Joint Events: Joint events can be a great way to increase your reach and save on costs. By pooling your resources with another organization, you can create bigger, more impactful events that serve a broader community. Plus, these events open the door to future collaboration. I’ve even seen organizations host joint fundraising campaigns where the donor's gift is split between the two charities.
Align Your Goals and Mission: True collaboration happens when two (or more) organizations come together with a shared mission and common goals. Whether it’s a long-term project or a joint initiative, aligning your efforts can lead to systemic change that wouldn’t be possible if you were working alone.
Making Collaboration Work
In my work, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of nonprofit collaboration. From co-hosting events to partnering on service delivery, the more we work together, the stronger we become. It’s not about diminishing your organization’s success; it’s about amplifying your collective impact.
So, what’s your next step? Is there an organization you’ve been considering reaching out to for a joint project? Let’s continue building a culture of collaboration in the nonprofit sector. Together, we can move mountains.
At Sprout Fundraising & Consulting, I’m passionate about helping small nonprofits reach their full potential. If you’re ready to start collaborating and need guidance, let’s chat. I’d love to help you explore how working together can drive success for your mission.
