Before asking "who should we partner with," the more useful question is first, "does it make sense to partner on this now?" and "are we ready to partner well?"

Strong strategic partnerships have the power to extend your reach, share resources, boost sustainability, and help you tackle complex problems no single organization can solve alone — but partnerships, like anything, require intentional design.

This session covers the fundamentals of strategic partnerships: why they matter, the different forms they can take, and how to build ones that are authentic and built to last. In this session, participants will:

• Understand how the right partnerships can transform your work — and assess whether your organization is ready to pursue one.
• Learn different partnership models — from coalitions to shared services — and when each one fits.
• Identify and map potential partners based on interest and influence.
• Learn what it takes to build authentic, resilient partnerships, and how to recognize when one isn't working.

About the Trainer

As the founder of Compass North Consulting, Erica Olmstead helps nonprofits, coalitions, and networks navigate complex challenges through strategic collaboration. With expertise spanning facilitation, strategic planning, community engagement, evaluation, and partnership design, she specializes in bridging grassroots insights and organizational leadership. What sets her work apart is relationship-centered design—whether developing strategic plans that incorporate community voice, designing evaluations that capture diverse perspectives, or building partnerships that maximize collective resources, She helps organizations create authentic connections that advance their mission.