The Collaboration Challenge: How Nonprofits and Businesses Succeed Through Strategic Alliances 1st Edition

Presented by The Drucker Foundation

"Austin has uncovered the common elements and key strategiesthat make for effective collaborations.... In The CollaborationChallenge, he illuminates these key lessons for all leaders,and makes it possible for each of us to meet the collaborationchallenge."
—Frances Hesselbein, chairman of the board ofgovernors, The Drucker Foundation, and John C. Whitehead, founder,The John C. Whitehead Fund for Not-for-Profit Management, HarvardBusiness School

"Austin has performed a valuable service for nonprofitorganizations and their corporate partners by illuminating thedynamics of successful relationships. His useful book deserves tobe widely read by leaders in both sectors concerned aboutincreasing the effectiveness of their social action agenda."
—Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Harvard Business School, authorof World Class and Rosabeth Moss Kanter on the Frontiers ofManagement

"The entire nonprofit sector has been searching for theexpertise and tools this book provides. Nothing else like itexists."
—Bill Shore, executive director of Share-Our-Strengthand author of The Cathedral Within and Revolution of theHeart

In these complex times, when no organization can succeed alone,nonprofits and businesses are embracing collaboration for mutualbenefits. Nonprofits are partnering with businesses to furthertheir missions, develop resources, strengthen programs, and thrivein the competitive world. Companies are also discovering thatalliances with nonprofits generate significant rewards: increasedcustomer preference, improved employee morale, greater brandidentity, stronger corporate culture, and higher innovation.

In this timely and insightful book, James E. Austin provides apractical framework for understanding how traditional philanthropicrelationships can be transformed into powerful strategic alliances.He offers advice and lessons drawn from the experiences of numerouscollaborations, including Timberland and City Year; Starbucks andCARE; Georgia-Pacific and The Nature Conservancy; MCI WorldCom andThe National Geographic Society; Reebok and Amnesty International;and Hewlett-Packard and the National Science Resource Center.

Readers will learn how to:

• Find and connect with high-potential partners
• Ensure strategic fit with the partner's mission and values
• Generate greater value for each partner and society
• Manage the partnering relationship effectively