LEARNING
BEYOND
THE BELL
Business Partnerships –
A Win-Win Situation
UPDATED 2014
Australian businesses provide substantial support to community organisations each year
through donations, sponsorship, volunteering and in- kind support. During the 2003-2004
financial year over $3.2 billion was donated by businesses to the not-for-profit sector, 68% of
this donation was in the form of money ($2.21 billion), 16% in goods ($0.52 billion), and 16% in
services ($0.52 billion)1. With a bit of planning and determination your program could potentially
access some of these donations. Although partnerships take work, there are a number of mutual
benefits to consider. Firstly, you may be able to establish ongoing funding/resourcing for
your homework club, leading to sustainability and ultimately, better outcomes for the young
people you support. Secondly, partnerships offer opportunities for the exchange of ideas and
information, developing the capacity of both partners in often unexpected ways. And thirdly,
developing partnerships with local businesses enhances your community networking ability,
promotes your program and creates further potential. Below are 10 tips to help you with your
endeavours:
10 Tips for Forming Mutually Beneficial Business-Homework Club
Partnerships2
1. Ensure that your organisation/homework club is partnership ready. Full support from
management is required to assist you in the possible long and challenging road ahead.
2. Develop an organisational value system for forming partnerships – consider under
what circumstances you would reject a partnership offer from a business. Identify risks
The Centre for Multicultural Youth is a Victorian not-for-profit
organisation supporting young people from migrant and
refugee backgrounds to build better lives in Australia.
Centre for Multicultural Youth
304 Drummond St, Carlton VIC 3054
T (03) 9340 3700 • F (03) 9349 3766
[email protected] • cmy.net.au
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copyright. This document was first published in February 2014.
CMY acknowledges the support of the
Victorian Government
associated with forming a business partnership.
3. Get to know your local council members, ask for letters of endorsement from these
members to support you when approaching potential business partners.
4. Attend networking opportunities where businesses will be present (even if it does not
relate directly to your homework club or organisation) – you have an advantage if a
business has already met you or has some knowledge of your organisation before you
approach them.
5. People give to people, not to organisations – put time and effort into developing a
relationship with your potential partner business. Face to face meetings are essential.
6. Approach your potential business partner with a program plan for your homework
club, outlining your vision, mission and purpose and what sort of support you are
seeking (don’t start with asking for money). Involve your business partner in the further
development of the Homework Club.
7. Provide your potential partner with a list of possible benefits to them, e.g. the partner
could be exposed to a key target market (young people, multicultural community etc.),
there could be opportunities for staff community involvement (business/corporate
responsibility activities), or the organisation’s community reputation could be improved
due to website/newsletter advertising, staff training, room hire etc.
8. Develop a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with your business partner outlining
roles and responsibilities of each party. There must be ‘buy in’ or commitment to the
partnership at the top levels of both organisations.
9. Be sure you can deliver on anything you promise. Aim for quality not quantity and be
upfront and honest. You must continue to impress your partner with your professionalism
and good partnership/program outcomes.
10. Effective communication is the key – ensure that you are in regular contact and that
you communicate important changes - no surprises! Ask to be part of their stakeholder
communication lists/emails so you are always up to date with the happenings of your
partner.
1 http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/general/general_article.jsp?articleId=103
2 Sources: ‘Building Sustainable Community Partnerships’ presentation Kilsyth Basketball & ‘Joint Vision Shared Success’,
Monash Volunteer Resource Centre.