Rotary and Rotaract clubs can get more done when we partner with outside organizations and use our combined strengths to increase our impact. But how do you get organizations to work with your club? RI’s Service and Engagement staff members recently compiled 10 tips to help club leaders find and secure partners, including these:
Commit to bold ideas.
Use the district resource network and other experts to refine your ideas.
Start with a small project and collect data to prove your concept to large donors, nonprofits, and government agencies that can help scale up your initiative.
Get these and other tips in the Rotary Service in Action blog.
We know that amazing things happen when we work together. And successful partnerships are key to allowing Rotary to increase our impact. But how do you persuade others to support your meaningful service initiative?
In a recent webinar, Rotary members and partners shared 10 tips on how to identify and secure partners:
- Commit to bold ideas.
Find ambitious approaches that address the underlying cause of an issue. Sustainable solutions will pique the interest of those outside Rotary who care about solving the same problem. Share those ideas with potential partners. Panelists suggested that the challenge often isn’t money as much as a failure to inspire partners with our solutions. Bold ideas that will create lasting, positive change will motivate partners to work with us. - Develop your idea with Rotary expertise and project tools.
As you develop (or later implement) your bold idea, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. Leverage the expertise that exists in Rotary and use project tools such as:- Your district resource network, which includes members of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers and of Rotary Action Groups
- The Conducting Community Assessment handbook
- Prove your concept.
Start with a small project and local donors and collect data that shows your approach is effective. With this proof, you can develop solutions to serve more people and attract larger donors. Involve your government and emphasize how the project will help members in specific communities. Panelists suggested this mindset: “We’ll do this even if you don’t give us funding — but if you do, we’ll make this impact much faster.” - Use your Rotary network to identify potential partners.
Attend district and club-led events, interclub assemblies, the Rotary International Convention, project fairs, and other activities. Participate in programs like Rotary Action Groups and Rotary Fellowships that bring people together through shared professional and personal interests. Feel confident contacting members around the world. Just by saying, “I am part of Rotary,” you can build relationships. You can also ask members whether other professional networks or organizations they’re part of might be excited about your bold solution. - Keep building your network outside Rotary.
Look beyond Rotary. Who else in your community is working to address similar issues? Connect with them! Seek introductions to people in your professional and social networks who care about the communities your project or program will serve. As you work with trusted partners, ask who else they collaborate with. This helps you build your network of potential partners. Approach financial commitments the same way: When you have one initial commitment or match, use that to approach other partners. - Identify potential partners whose goals align with yours.
Find out what local governments and communities say their needs are and notice which groups are doing meaningful work and have programs that implement solutions. Learn about their goals and determine if they align with your own. Partners who share goals are more motivated to find ways to work together, combining their strengths to overcome weaknesses and integrating big ideas into a more efficient, effective solution. - Emphasize that Rotary is “local” around the world.
Rotary’s impact is based on collective action. Tell potential partners that collaborating with Rotary means having the ability to activate our “local” global presence and commitment to service. Our network of people engaged in making a difference and experienced in convening diverse local leaders means that partners can work with people who are committed to and capable of implementing sustainable, community-led solutions. - Remember that potential partners are looking for good ideas.
Companies, family foundations, government agencies, and other potential partners are seeking opportunities to use their financial resources to do good in the world. They are looking for solutions that would make their investment worthwhile. Rotary members can offer them bold ideas with well-planned, locally led programs they can be part of. Invite them to join you in creating lasting, positive change. - Consider rejection as an opportunity.
Don’t be discouraged if potential partners say no. Ask for feedback! Provide more information to clarify any misunderstandings. They might prefer a different scope, approach, or target area than you planned on. Consider whether you can adjust your proposal to incorporate their interests while working toward the goals you have in common or if you can connect them with another Rotary group that’s more aligned with them. - Accept that building a partnership requires time.
Partnerships are built over time and by maintaining relationships. Panelists shared how they solidified the trust necessary for long-term commitments: starting with unfunded collaborations, working on smaller projects with less funding, and staying in contact through project updates or holiday greetings. It may take more time than you expected to build the relationship, but the trust and understanding that develop makes the partnership more likely to be successful.
By using these tips, you can engage potential partners and build lasting collaborations that create positive change in your communities.