COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

This page explains with whom the association can cooperate and how this happens. We will also tell you about the benefits of cooperation.  

The association should cooperate with others, as this can improve the association’s activities.  

Good cooperation partners can be 

  • other associations 
  • companies 
  • local authorities. 

When an association needs a partner, it is worth considering  

  • how does cooperation help the association to achieve its goals? 
  • what can the association give to the partner? For example, does the association have special expertise? 
  • what kind of cooperation best helps the association’s target group? 
  • who else is working on the same topic in the association’s area?  

This is how cooperation begins! 

After your association has found a good partner, the first step is to get to know your partner. This helps build trust and make sure the cooperation works well.   

At the beginning of a partnership, ask these questions:

  • Are the association’s values similar to the partner’s values?  
  • What are the goals of the cooperation? 
  • How will we use the resources? 
  • What are the responsibilities of each party?  

What types of cooperation can the association participate in? 

Event cooperation    

Associations often work together to organise events.  

Event cooperation is useful because

  • you can have a bigger and more interesting event 
  • you can share resources 
  • you can reach more people with your marketing 
  • you can attract more participants.  

Advocacy 

Advocacy means that the association wants to create change. Working with others is helpful because it allows you to have a greater impact. When many associations talk about the same issue in a similar way, the message gets more attention. Cooperation can mean working together on a campaign or making a public statement, for example.  

Collective advocacy is useful because

  • you can share tasks and responsibilities 
  • you come across as more credible 
  • you can share skills 
  • the voice of more associations is better heard.  

Exchange of information 

It is important that the association exchanges information with other associations.  

Information exchange is useful because

  • associations can improve their activities 
  • associations do not waste resources by doing the same work at the same time  
  • it helps create new ideas for cooperation 
  • associations get up-to-date information about their target groups  
  • associations learn about the activities of other associations 
  • association learn about what is happening in society.  

Networking 

Associations can also cooperate with large networks. Large networks involve many different actors. The partners can be other associations, local authorities, companies, or the government, for example. 

In a good network, everyone is equal and shares common goals. In a network, everyone follows the same rules and trusts each other.  

Network cooperation is useful because it allows  

  • open dialogue 
  • the efficient sharing of important information between all participants.  

Corporate partnership 

An association should work with companies, especially if it wants to raise money. Companies can also provide benefits to the association’s members, which can help attract new members. You can also create products together with the company, for example, and share the income from their sales. 

Corporate partnership is useful because it gives 

  • financial support 
  • publicity for the association 
  • new ways of doing things.   

Strategic partnership 

Strategic partnership means long-term and continuous development of cooperation. This means you can develop the association’s skills or find new ways of doing things.   

Strategic cooperation is useful because  

  • both parties learn new things 
  • both parties get something from the other that they cannot get elsewhere  
  • funding can be applied for together.