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SECURE PARTNERSHIPS

Working in partnership brings even more ideas, talents, skills, and resources to your program and multiplies the impacts on youth. The most successful collaborations are a balanced two-way street, with each entity bringing their unique strengths to the partnership.

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Reflect

Which potential partners are the right fit for your program?

Use these reflection questions as a guide:

  • Does this partner align with our vision for the program?
  • Would this partner be a good fit for the program? Would partnership help us operate more efficiently or expand our capacities and capabilities?
  • How do we compliment and/or build upon one another’s competencies and capacities?
  • What strengths and resources does the partner bring to the program?
  • What strengths and resources do we bring to the partner’s organization?

“Gives & Gets”

Once you’ve identified your potential partner(s), it’s time to reach out to make connections and commitments. It’s a good idea to spell out in writing what each partner gives and what each partner gets in return to make sure all partners are on the same page.

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Likes

Good partners work in tandem empower young people, engage the community and amplify one another’s strengths.

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Resources

PARTNERSHIP RESOURCES

Put It In Writing

Check out this “Gives & Gets” letter from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) or this Sample Memorandum of Understanding from Beyond The Bell for guidance in crafting your own partner agreements. Typically, this document should spell out responsibilities for staff, supplies, budget breakdown and responsibilities, shared language for marketing and permission forms, programmatic content provided by each partner, transportation coordination, communication expectations, and any other details specific to your partnership.

Data Sharing Agreement

You may also want to enter into a data sharing agreement, like this one from MDE, at this time.

Partner Asset Mapping Tool

Want to go even deeper? Check out this handy Partner Asset Mapping Tool from Beyond the Bell to help identify CBOs that share your goals and compliment your strengths and weaknesses.

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