Partner Article

Is collaboration necessary to support frontline services?

Find out why charities are increasingly working together and becoming more innovative and resilient as a result.

Many charities have struggled in recent years due to central and local government cutbacks, a reduction in charitable giving and steep competition for grants. With traditional charity funding sources drying up, charities are increasingly forming collaborative arrangements in order to fulfil their objectives. Partners can include fellow charities, as well as private and public sector organisations.

Collaborations may take a variety of forms…

Sharing resources and facilities

Sharing space and even merging back office functions – such as HR, admin, payroll and IT – with another charity is a great way to save money and reduce the need for new charity funding sources.

A shared service centre approach can result in improved efficiencies, so more time and resources can then be redirected to beneficiaries. Working together also makes it possible to share knowledge and skills.

Working together on fundraising initiatives

You might consider campaigning together with one or more other charities. As well as cutting costs, this can encourage individuals to donate by giving the impression – justifiably – that the money they give will go further.

By making joint applications for charity funding sources for collaborative initiatives, charities can pool their resources and expertise to maximum effect.

Teaming up to provide frontline services

Working with other charities to provide services for beneficiaries is a great way to maximise impact without having to apply for new charity funding sources.

It is increasingly common for small charities to join forces in a consortium to improve their chances in tenders for contracts to deliver public services.

You may also think about outsourcing work to other organisations, either charitable or commercial, that have specific expertise your own charity lacks.

Collaboration in action

Adullam Homes Housing Association is a charitable industrial and provident society with a mission to restore hope and dignity through quality housing and support.

In addition to a range of bedsits, flats, houses and hostel places, it has two dedicated properties providing secure homes for young people leaving care.

“Over the past few years local authorities have been subject to significant year on year cuts in their financial allocations from central government,” explains Adullam’s head of income generation, Paul Williams. “This has forced them to focus on the services they have a statutory duty to provide.

“The need to look for other ways of sustaining our services has actually given us creative freedom to come up with a more holistic approach to meeting the needs of our customers. Teaming up with other organisations, including businesses and public sector organisations as well as other charities, has enabled us to enhance our services. As a result we can provide opportunities for our customers that wouldn’t otherwise be available to them.

“For example we’re able to offer services like acupuncture in association with Addiction Dependency Solutions and equine therapy with The Enterprise Centre in addition to our more structured support.”

Finding a partner

While some charities are still going it alone, working collaboratively with other organisations could make yours more resilient, help you achieve more with less and increase your impact on beneficiaries.

If you’re interested in collaborating but don’t have a particular organisation in mind, you could try theFunding Central Partner Search service.

It’s important to think carefully before entering into a collaboration of any kind and to draw up detailed plans and agreements. The Charity Commission’s guide Choosing to Collaborate: Helping you succeed provides in-depth guidance on what to bear in mind at every stage, from considering a collaboration to developing an exit strategy.

Takeaways

So, before searching for new charity funding sources you may want to consider collaboration. If you’re thinking of collaborating with other organisations, remember:

• Consider whether it would be most effective to pool back office resources, work together on fundraising initiatives or club together to provide frontline services.
• Before entering into a collaboration, do your due diligence and draw up solid agreements.
• If you don’t have partners in mind, the Funding Central Partner Search facility could help.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Neil Hewitt .