19 Secrets To Building Strong Nonprofit Business Partnerships

Strong, sustainable partnerships are essential for your nonprofit’s long-term impact and success. However, cultivating these relationships requires more than just a contractual agreement; they require trust, mutual value and a shared commitment to meaningful outcomes.

Below, 19 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council share their best-kept secrets for building and maintaining strong partnerships. Read on to learn why nonprofit leaders must be intentional in fostering connections that drive lasting support—and how to best do this to drive organizational growth.

1. Establish A Shared Vision

Partnerships that last are built on a shared vision that results in shared benefits. It can’t be a one-way street with only one party putting in the effort or benefiting. For each party, whether it’s a nonprofit partnering with another nonprofit or a business, the vision for the outcome should be the same, with each contributing what they have promised to bring to the table. – Kimberly Lewis, Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.

2. Practice Trust, Transparency And Listening

The secret is threefold: trust, transparency and listening. It is no secret that people do business with those they like and trust. If trust exists in the relationship, it creates long-lasting collaboration, success and value for all involved. This trust is gained and deepened through listening and transparency. – Eric Dell, American Bakers Association

3. Prioritize Mutual Values, Communication And Benefit

Building strong, sustainable relationships with key partners involves shared values, clear communication and mutual benefit. Prioritize transparency, actively listen and align your mission with their objectives. Foster trust through consistent follow-ups and celebrate joint successes. This creates a foundation for long-term collaboration, ensuring both parties feel valued and invested. – Christine Schuster, Emerson Health

4. Operate With Co-Creation In Mind

The secret is co-creation or moving from a transactional, service-provider relationship to a true partnership. It takes time to establish trust, a shared vision, a common working culture and even a common language. It requires being flexible, humble and open to new ways of working and thinking but the benefits are huge with both parties achieving an impact they could never have achieved alone. – Sarah Jefferson, Ashoka

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5. Approach Collaboration With Authenticity

Transparency about challenges and successes builds trust and credibility. Open communication ensures that partners feel valued and informed. Vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it allows partners to see the passion and commitment behind the mission. When you approach collaborations with authenticity, you create relationships rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose. – Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC

6. Build Trust Over Time

One key component of building strong, sustainable relationships is building trust over a long period. It sounds simple, but trust is the key to transformational relationships when you are seen as a trusted resource, partner and leader who is present, available and leads excellently. – Gregory C. Scott, Community Action Partnership of Orange County

7. Bring A Genuine Attitude Of Partnership

Build synergies where there is mutual alignment by bringing a genuine attitude of partnership. This approach alone, long lost in today’s market, will result in sustainable partnerships being built. Partners want to know that you are truly invested in building a personal relationship, as it can lead to truly deep and impactful work being done! – Dr. Hudson Garrett, Jr., Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals

8. Understand The ‘Why’

I believe strong partnerships are built on being authentic, proximate and present. Understand not only the “why” of the partnership but also the shared impact and values alignment. What makes the secret not so secret is that these factors can be felt; if you can lean into it, all partners win. – Maureen Sedonaen, Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

9. Develop Trust To Foster Mutual Vulnerability

It’s not a secret—it’s trust. Trust is the bedrock upon which any successful partnership is built. Trust provides a safe space for vulnerability, allowing partners to engage in difficult conversations with openness and respect, knowing their relationship can withstand honest dialogue. – Erin Mote, InnovateEDU

10. Be Flexible And Responsive To Change

True partnerships go beyond replication to complement and expand each other. Being flexible and responsive to change ensures that the collaboration remains relevant and impactful over time. Sustainable partnerships are those that create lasting cultural, social and community impact. By focusing on shared vision and mutual benefit, we build relationships that endure and make a real difference. – Paolo Petrocelli, Dubai Opera

11. Be Reliable

Delivering on your promises shows leadership and care for the partnership, helping to build trust and strong relationships. Being a reliable partner who lives up to expectations and collaborates effectively helps foster deeper relationships that are sustainable and can withstand ups and downs. Mission-aligned nonprofits should partner on funding and investment opportunities to have more impact. – Neha Gill, Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home)

12. Focus On Relationships Beyond Transactions

Needless to say, relationship-building is key. But, too often when it comes to businesses or institutions like foundations, fundraisers shift into transaction mode. This includes things like event sponsorships, project-based applications or gala tables, but there are individuals behind these institutions who require relationships. – Sherry Quam Taylor, QuamTaylor

13. Demonstrate Tenacity, Flexibility And Transparency

Tenacity, flexibility and transparency all lead to building trust. As a leader, you set the tone and the pace for a sustainable relationship. You’ll need tenacity and flexibility to weather the ups and downs, along with transparency to mutually share challenges and vulnerabilities. In doing so, you’ll be building a strong, trusting relationship with long-lasting resonance. – Randy Wong, Hawaii Youth Symphony

14. Seek Out Feedback

Ask for their input, and inquire about what changes, innovations or slightly different approaches they would like to see. Invite them to a dialogue. This does not mean you will do what they suggest, but they will have a chance to better understand how you run the organization and why. Also, what you learn may lead to better outcomes for the organization, hence better ROI for them! – Magdalena Nowicka Mook, ICF (International Coaching Federation)

15. Align Your Core Values And Mission

Aligning the core values and mission is key to developing strong, sustainable stakeholder relations. When the nonprofit organization, sponsor, volunteer, board member or stakeholder holds the same values or shares a mission fueled by passion, great outcomes will lay ahead. Try to avoid creating a relationship where you have to work around a difference in values or mission. – Aaron Alejandro, Texas FFA Foundation

16. Ensure The Partnership Has Complementary Value Propositions

Key elements for sustainable partnerships include trust, authenticity and strategic alignment. Trust is essential, as it fosters reliability and mutual respect. Partners should have complementary value propositions that benefit both long term. Transparency in transactions and operations is crucial. Together, they should build a model to expand, enhance or better serve their customers. – Bishan Nandy, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences

17. Prioritize Strategic Alignment

The key to relationship-building is alignment in shared values, goals and mission. It fosters easier collaboration with partners who see a common purpose. Alignment creates a win-win dynamic, showing partners how supporting your nonprofit advances your cause while benefiting their business through CSR, brand recognition or employee engagement. It builds a productive “in this together” mindset. – Ann Marie Krautheim, GENYOUth

18. Focus On Common Viewpoints

First, seek partners who share similar goals and are aligned with your organization’s core mission and values. Then, build transparency and trust through consistent updates and collaborative planning. Create opportunities for partners to engage deeply and see tangible impacts. Involve them in strategic initiatives to develop a shared sense of ownership that fosters long-term engagement. – Shaun Carver, I-House

19. Prioritize Good, Consistent Communication

Sustainable partnerships are built in tandem with strong relationships with multiple people within partner businesses. To avoid having relationships be transactional, consistent, salient, good communication about mutually beneficial initiatives, outcomes and progress is critical. It’s also just as critical to deliver on all promises and honestly communicate when goals or expectations are not met. – Kendra Davenport, Easterseals