This week Roadmender assembled a few interesting articles that provide valuable understanding to anyone interested in learning something new, and those motivated to improve their craft as partnership strategists and leaders.

Collaboration is in many ways a bit of a buzz word and, as some have suggested, a form of ‘new competition’. However collaboration is not meant to be an answer for everything. Rather, it is a way of operating and conceptualising an enterprise that must always start with a strategy. The first piece When Collaboration Doesn’t Make Sense is a very insightful work by Mollie West from Harvard Business School and Andy Posner, Executive Director of Capital Good Fund. This is a ‘must read’ as it makes some critical points; in particular the implicit suggestion that collaboration only works after organisations complete a detailed analysis of the advantages of collaboration for their mission. Full article: http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/when_collaboration_doesnt_make_sense

The second piece we selected is little more focussed on funding and sponsorship. Evaluate Your Nonprofit From Funders’ Perspectives written by Mel and Pearl Shaw makes a clear point about the importance of the Board of a not-for-profit. In the Australian context, there have been number of studies (one almost every year) and they often point out weaknesses in not-for-profit governance. However, this article is very much representative of the North American context, which should be taken into account before conclusions are made about the Australian market and practices.Full article: http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2013/jul/23/evaluate-your-nonprofit-from-funders-perspective-1/

The third article in this week’s roundup is an interesting study (albeit short) from Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) written by Jennifer Amanda Jones which examines reaction of donors to the Livestrong Foundation (founded by cyclist Lance Armstrong) in the wake of the doping scandal. Ms Jones’ article Livestrong Foundation: Do Disgruntled Donors Deserve a Refund?, suggests that image management can play major a role in a high value partnership. Full article:http://nonprofitquarterly.org/philanthropy/22644-livestrong-foundation-do-disgruntled-donors-deserve-a-refund.html

Closer to home, the good people of the Pro Bono Australia provide Six Top Tips for Getting and Maintaining a Corporate Partnership. This is certainly something all partnership strategists need to know. Their specific point of suggesting that not-for-profits need to ‘bring their business acumen’ when communicating with the incorporate partner, should resonate with all who are serious about sustainable partnerships between corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Full article: http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/07/six-top-tips-getting-maintaining-corporate-partnership?utm_source=Pro+Bono+Australia+-+email+updates&utm_campaign=8e3a5f3ce9-news_23_July7_23_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ee68172fb-8e3a5f3ce9-146742314#

The final article in this week’s selection suggests that corporates (again North American) are increasingly charitable despite economic hardships. Encouraging news. Full article:http://blog.mcf.org/2013/07/25/corporate-giving-up-since-2007/

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