Our new Insights report shares learning and advice from organisations we fund on what makes good partnerships, and how to make them work. It also makes two things clear: it takes more time, effort, and money to work in partnership; and the funding system is not well set up to support partnership working.
This report is for anyone in the non-profit sector who is planning a new alliance, committed to working collaboratively, or struggling in a partnership that isn’t working. It's also for funders, like Esmée, who want to get better at supporting and working in partnerships.
Partnerships are hard work
As funders, we know from our own experiences how tricky it can be to set up and maintain a partnership with another funder when our governance is separate, even with all our resources. So why are we surprised when it takes longer and is more difficult for the organisations we fund? It is easy for us to say from a funder’s perspective that organisations “should be working together” when their work looks similar. But how many funders can say that what we each do is unique?
Working together is our superpower
The funding system is currently set up to make us all focus on what makes us different and special, instead of what we have in common, or what we need from others. In contrast, the learning in this report shows the inherent flexibility of social organisations. The organisations we fund are brilliant at making new partnerships and adapting to them in a way that corporate or public sector organisations are not. As a sector, collaborating could be our superpower.
We hope this report gives you some ideas, reassurance, or challenge to work better in partnership. It shares the advice of four brilliant partnerships we fund: Drive Forward Foundation, Northern Roots, Greener UK hosted by Green Alliance, and Committee on the Administration of Justice and North West Migrants Forum. The report also shares key resources from Take Note, IVAR, Tamarack Institute, The Change Agency, High Trees and Rising Arts Agency.
We want to hear from you
Please let us know what you think, we're always keen to hear your questions or comments so do send us an email to: communications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk.
Learn more
-
Funding partnerships
We want to be at the forefront of new approaches to funding - working in partnership with other funders and organisations to increase our reach and make more of a difference.
Read more -
Insights and learning
We share insights from our work along with research and evaluation we've commissioned, and key publications from work we fund.
Read more
You might be interested in
-
12 February 2026Who our funding is reaching 2025
Our 2025 report looking at who our funding is reaching based on diversity data gathered from applicants based on the DEI Data Standard.
Read more -
Pre-application Q&A webinar: 5 February 2026
Watch a pre-application Q&A webinar we held on 5 February 2026 for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
Read more -
Our pay gap data: 2025
We collect data to be able to report on any pay gaps that might exist as part of the annual survey of trustees and staff, which helps us track progress on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within Esmée. This report looks at data gathered in 2025.
Read more -
The RACE Report 2025: Reflections from Esmée
The annual RACE (Racial Action for the Climate Emergency) Report shares findings on the racial diversity of environment organisations and funders. We share our reflections on the findings as well as our role as a funder committed to social and environmental justice.
Read more