Community Sector and Business Partnerships

Stephanie MackOffice for the Community Sector

About the Office for the Community Sector

• Reduce the regulatory burden on community sector organisations

• Strengthen the capacity of the not-for-profit community sector

Office for the Community Sector

Burden reduction Capacity building

National Standard Chart of Accounts

ICT Tools

Common Funding Agreement Shared Services

NFP Compliance Support Centre Workforce tools

Amendments to the Associations Incorporations Act

Community Foundations Funding

Greater collaboration with LGAs

Work with Philanthropy/business

Leadership Development

Community Sector and Business Partnerships Guide and Tool kit

What does the sector want?

• Human resources • Tools and templates • Forums• Relationships that work• An angle/ knowing how to ‘talk the talk’

What does Business want?

• Ability to deliver CSR objectives • Clear communication/ demonstrated impact• Relevant partnership opportunities • Professional approach

Stage 1: Getting Ready

• Understand what you have to offer • For the sector, helps to ‘get your house in

order’ and develop marketing approach • For business, helps to understand the right

fit for your business – in order to support your business goals

Stage 2: Finding a Partner/ Relationship

• Consider the type of relationship you need • Undertaking research • Plan for approaching potential partners

Stage 3: Approaching a Potential Partner

• Planning your approach • Writing and developing material (evaluation

and demonstrating impact)• Provides early terms of reference for

developing a relationship

Stage 4: Establishing a Relationship

• Formalising objectives, timelines and scope to enable better evaluation

• Enables both partners to talk about the relationship risks and how to avoid common pitfalls

Stage 5: Keeping it on Track

• Communications approach to suit both partners

• Determine tasks • Documenting progress

Stage 6: Review/ Renew/ Next Steps

• Sometimes relationships run their course – important to manage the conclusion as much as the courtship

• Important to take stock/demonstrate mutual impact/ value

• Important to think about how work can be built upon

Case Study

Arnie Bax – Travellers Aid

Activity – Elevator Speech

(Name of your organisation) works with (client or group) to (statement of need or opportunity) so they can (outcome) which means that (statement of key benefit).

We’re the only organisation that (unique selling point) and if we can (intended action and requirements) we can achieve (new goal).

Elevator Speech Continued....

We’re coming to you because (state potential partnership). We can offer you (state what you can offer) and need (state needs) from you. This partnership would help us (restate goal) and would help your (business or social goal).

Together we can (joint achievement).

The Office for the Community Sector, within DPCD works with the whole of the Victorian NFP sector to reduce the burden of compliance on the sector and strengthen capacity so they can continue to work to strengthen Victorian communities which means that Victoria is a great place to live.We’re the only organisation that represents the needs of the Victorian community sector across the whole of government and if we can engage with the business and philanthropic communities more we can achieve/ensure that a greater/more diverse resource base is known by the sector.

We’re coming to you because you represent the needs of the business sector in Victoria. We can act as the gateway to the NFP community sector and need endorsement from you. This partnership would help us connect with the business community sector and would help achieve your Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) goals. Together we can work to support greater collaboration between the community sector and business.