Understanding the benefits of cross-agency collaboration for national service and volunteer programs

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Abstract

Collaboration is an effective method for national service organizations and other volunteer agencies to meet common goals. This effective practice describes some of the benefits of cross-agency collaboration for national service and volunteer programs in the areas of resource development, stakeholder buy-in, marketing and media, and project development. Campaign Consultation, Inc. shared this material at the National Senior Service Corps Atlantic Cluster Conference, held July 25-27, 2001 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Issue

A collaboration can be defined as a mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship, which involves people from different agencies or sectors of the community joining together to achieve a common goal. Understanding what to expect from collaboration is helpful for agencies that have had little experience partnering with others and helps first-time collaborators develop goals to be achieved through collaboration.

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Action

According to Campaign Consultation, Inc, benefits of cross-agency collaboration in the areas of resource development, stakeholder buy-in, marketing and media, and project development include the following:

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Potential for National Service Programs

  • Access to funding expertise
  • Access to more donors and resources to help expand and diversify funding base
  • More efficient resource development strategy
Potential for Executive Directors and Host Agencies
  • More input for finding creative solutions
  • Less chance of having efforts compete with other programs affiliated with the Agency
  • Expanded pool from which to cultivate program advocates, participants and volunteers

STAKEHOLDER BUY-IN

Potential for National Service Programs

  • More opportunities for involvement by host agency's network and constituency
  • Enhanced community standing due to association with host agency
Potential for Executive Directors and Host Agencies
  • More opportunities for involvement by project's network and constituency
  • Greater legitimacy with project's network and constituency

MARKETING AND MEDIA

Potential for National Service Programs

  • More connections to marketing and media resources
Potential for Executive Directors and Host Agencies
  • Better position from which to make a case for support

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Potential for National Service Programs

  • Development of meaningful projects supporting the agency mission
  • Increased accessibility to partial/full funding from the agency
Potential for Executive Directors and Host Agencies
  • Creative projects that can be marketed and promoted to funders
  • Ability to expand into new funding areas

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Context

Founded in 1988, Campaign Consultation, Inc. works with individuals and organizations at local, state, national and international levels to achieve community development, fund raising, diversity utilization, issue advocacy, media and marketing, public policy as well as organizational and business development success.

The Atlantic Cluster Conference in Philadelphia concluded the 2001 conference season with more than 500 participants including 233 project directors and 120 sponsor executives and representatives. Through the 2001 Senior Corps Cluster Conferences, a total of nearly 1,400 project directors and 600 sponsor executives joined together to discuss the future of senior service and explore creative ways to maximize senior volunteerism.

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Posted On

September 19, 2002

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For More Information

Campaign Consultation, Inc.
2819 Saint Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4312
Phone: (410) 243-7979
Toll-free: 1-877-234-2253
Fax: (410) 243-1024

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