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
-
27 March 2025Pre-application Q&A Webinar: 12 May 2025
We're hosting a pre-application Q&A webinar on 12 May 2025 for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
Read more -
Invitation to Tender: Expanded Land Purchase Facility options
Invitation to Tender: We're looking to work with a consultant to scope and design options for an expanded and collaborative Land Purchase Facility.
Read more -
Racial justice: A review of Esmée's approach
Following a listening exercise with organisations we fund who are led by communities experiencing racial inequity, we’re pleased to share a new report by Chrisann Jarrett reviewing our approach to racial justice. We’ve also shared our initial reflections and actions we plan to take in 2025.
Read more -
A message from Caroline Mason
Read a message of support from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation's Chief Executive, Caroline Mason.
Read more