Identifying shared goals key to success for NFP and corporate collaboration

The advantages to the corporate sector in partnering with not for profits go well beyond the ‘feel-good factor. By co-delivering services and acting as collaborators, the alignment allows corporates to fulfil their ESG obligations and along the way, become collaborators in improving communities around the State.

Several leading NFPs share their thoughts on the benefits to both sides of partnerships and how working alongside the sector offers the chance for corporates to elevate their ESG obligations and make a measurable impact as a result of their investment.

Find the common driver – and forge ahead

According to St Bart's GM Strategic Partnerships and Growth Neil Starkie, the NFP has a history of working with corporate partners, not through them. It’s an important distinction because it emphasises the difference between true collaboration and a superficial partnership.

“This means collaborating to achieve shared goals, contributing more than just financial inputs, valuing and respecting partner approaches, opinions and creativity, and supporting capacity development,” said Mr Starkie.

For the past four years, BHP has partnered with St Bart's to deliver their Reconnecting Lives Program (RLP). The program provides wraparound outreach support services to St Bart's consumers moving out of their transitional and supported accommodation and into secure, sustainable housing in the community using a person-centred, housing-led approach.

As at 30 June 2022, more than 280 St Bart’s consumers have benefited from RLP since its 2018 pilot, with a 100 per cent success rate, whereby program participants have been able to maintain their tenancies and avoid the potential spiral back to homelessness.

“Ultimately, we recognise that a collaborative partnership approach to co-deliver services like our Reconnecting Lives Program can present an opportunity to deliver greater impact in pursuit of our Mission than we could achieve if working alone,” said Mr Starkie.

To continue this important, positive work, St Bart's is actively seeking a new Reconnecting Lives Program partner to further support this valuable and highly sought-after service.

Anglicare WA also works closely with its corporate partners, and the mutually beneficial effects between the NFP and its supporting corporate organisations go well beyond delivering services to end-users.

Bankwest announced a new partnership with Anglicare WA in November 2022, and by identifying a cause which the financial institution strongly supported – in this case, a focus on helping those at risk of domestic and financial abuse – a meshed relationship has been created.

“Bankwest will this year again be a strong supporter of the State Government’s 16 Days in WA campaign, seeking to end violence against women, and this partnership enables our colleagues to volunteer with an organisation devoted to assisting, among others, survivors of family and domestic violence, and financial abuse,” said Bankwest EGM Jason Chan.

“We also know many are doing it tough at the moment, with rising costs-of-living putting a strain on households across WA, and I know my colleagues are looking forward to supporting Anglicare WA through volunteering.

“Anglicare WA has told us that, for the first time, Thread Together has workplaces approaching it for new starters who are unable to afford new clothing for their job, revealing the expanding scope of those in vulnerable situations.

“So, it’s a privilege to partner with Anglicare WA and to underpin its Thread Together program, enabling it to expand the reach of critical services and creating a positive social impact in our community.”