NFPs Share Insights on Kicking Goals with Corporate Partners

Not for Profit organisations can no longer rely on philanthropy to get by but need to put more of a focus on corporate partnerships and collective impact, delegates were told at a Sydney conference this week.

Keynote speakers at the Not for Profit and Corporate Partnerships conference repeatedly made reference to the crucial need for aligned values of both the Not for Profit and corporate organisations in achieving goals.

The Leukaemia Foundation Queensland has formed a strong working partnership with Westpac and Lendlease to establish affordable accommodation for cancer patients who require treatment in Brisbane.

Leukaemia Foundation Queensland CEO Bill Petch said it was time for NFPs to look beyond philanthropy and used his case study to demonstrate it to delegates.

“Philanthropy is not something that can be sustainable,” he said. “And it isn’t something that charities can hang their hat on.”

“Collaboration is actually not used that much, despite the term being thrown around a lot.
“The whole idea of collective impact- if you jump on board, you can do it [together].”

Petch said NFPs should find people within corporate organisations that want to champion the idea.

“[The champions] are passionate and they are really driven and they want to make it happen,” he said.

Westpac’s Head of Social Innovation Sandy Blackburn-Wright said the partnership with the Leukaemia Foundation Queensland and Lendlease was an exemplary case which demonstrated how both parties could leverage off each other.

“Pick your partners by strength,” she said.

“We have pulled together a consortium and we get on with it.They are all mutually beneficial [partnerships] and we are all having our itches scratched.

“It takes a long time but if you have got those mutual benefits, they will stay.
Create a strength-based partnership of mutual benefits.”

Blackburn-Wright said NFPs should use corporate partnerships to lean on their networks.

“There are assets sitting inside these corporates that you can use,” she said.
“Use their intellectual skills, use their mind power to build something that has never been done before.”

Coles Sustainability and Community Manager Majella Clarke reinforced the message when she told delegates about Coles’ partnership with food security and rescue program, Second Bite.

She said Coles actively looked for strengths that would align well when looking for partnerships.

“This is a partnership that is innovative and creating shared value,” she said.
“We can’t do it alone but if we can find ways of working together then it is likely to be more sustainable.

“The old philanthropy model is not sustainable and we have to move away from that.
"It is possible to create economic value and create social value at the same time.”