Good points

Britt Bravo — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:55:15 -0500

Hi Candelaria,

Thanks for sharing your insights about the pros and cons of nonprofits' collaborating. Perhaps an alternative solution is not that more existing nonprofits should merge, but that people who have ideas for new ones should see if they can collaborate with old ones before they start a whole new organization.

Collaboration works and costs

Candelaria Silva — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:04:38 -0500

Two non-profits that do arts-related work in Boston have voted to merge. There will not be an immediate cost savings although tehre will eventually. They have collaborated on projects for years and while their work is complimentary, it is not the same. Having worked with the EDs of both organizations, the sad truth is that oen of the will be out of a job after the transition period and so will another staff member or two. (They are tiny.) That is the aspect of merging that is not so nice.

As for collaboration, I think that collaboration is key for organizations to do effective work especially when they have budgets that don't really cover the tremendous work they do - a situation that many non-profits are in. That said, for collaborations to work there usually has to be a "lead" collaborator. definied, one that will make sure that deadlines are met, follow-up is completed, etc.

Foundations are certainly encouraging more non-profits to co-locate, collaborate, and even merge. In a free society, one can get an idea for a program and create one's own organization. I don't think that's unhealthy. I regret that as a society we spend so much more on war than we do on forces for positive change in the world.

Candelaria - Good and plenty!

BlogHer - collaboration - Comments

Good points

Collaboration works and costs