Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Dear Dewey & Kaye Consultant

Dear Dewey & Kaye:

Like many of my colleagues, I am a funder interested in supporting collaboration. How can I tell if a collaborative is functioning well?

 

Dear Funder:

There are four key questions to ask when evaluating whether a collaboration is working.

1. How long has it been in place? 
   • A year might serve as a good yardstick and would reflect a shared vision. 
2. Has it survived to function beyond its founders?                                                
   • A strong collaboration exists even after the original creators have moved on.
3. Are the partners investing their own resources in the collaboration?
   • This is a sign that the group isn't just looking for dollars, but building on a good thing.
4. Is central decision–making in place?
   • If so, it is evidence that trust exists and there are ways to address turf issues as they arise.

Another resource comes from a collaborative of funders in Milwaukee who developed a resource guide for nonprofits about collaboration and mergers called: Finding the Right Fit.  The guide includes an evaluation tool called the Internal Collaborative Functioning Scales and its elements include: shared vision, goals, responsibilities and roles, decision–making procedures, changing membership, conflict management, leadership, plans, relationships/trust, internal communications, external communications, and evaluation.            

Mary Phan–Gruber specializes in nonprofit and foundation management. Contact Mary at mphangruber@deweykaye.com.