Who Wants to Be a Partner? 25 First Moves for Nonprofits

If the thought of collaborating has appeal for you, but you don’t know how to start, here are 25 suggestions by Karen Eber Davis lifted from Texas Nonprofits’ e-newsletter of February 22nd. All of these ideas are intended to "see how the relationship works," and establish trust.

1. Share a coffee or lunch date to discuss common interests.
2. Trade ad space in your newsletter or programs.
3. Jointly sponsor a one-time education event for the community.
4. Attend an education event together; compare notes about how you will use the material at your organization.
5. Do a joint board retreat at one location; share rental expenses. Share a meal or refreshments or a keynote presentation with the other board.
6. Develop a joint marketing piece. "Come to these two March events.."
7. Offer a special discount coupon for attending two events, one from each partner.
8. Link your web pages. Become Facebook friends. Add each other to your mailing list.
9. Learn enough about each other to make referrals.
10. Go for a tour of each other's sites, meet afterward to share suggestions and insights.
11. Do a joint staff education event.
12. Recommend a service provider or association.
13. Attend each other's special events.
14. Serve on each other's hiring interviews for key positions.
15. Review each other's grants, prior to submittal.
16. Co-chair a committee together for an association to which you both belong.
17. Write or video a testimonial for the other organization for use in their publicity, press release or grant request.
18. Agree to meet monthly for one quarter, via telephone, to discuss common concerns, interests and ideas.
19. Share articles you think the other leaders will find of interest.
20. Share materials you developed, but no longer use, i.e. the case statement from your capital campaign, annual appeal letters, brochures, etc. Offer each other permission to copy with credit.
21. Review each other's websites, newsletter and other media. Make suggestions for improvements. 
22. Brainstorm a list of joint projects. Pick out the top three possibilities and explore moving forward on one of them.
23. Purchase something together to receive a discount (buy one get one free)
24. Develop a joint press release on a common concern.
25. Jointly write a letter to editor of the local newspaper.