Seek partners with complementary experience and expertise.

In the nonprofit world—or any industry, for that matter—the true strength of a partnership is about complementing each other rather than overlapping. Search for counterparts, for example, who excel in operational areas where you’re not as refined and whose public following and network of peers are as yet out of your reach. An ideal partner will pursue you on the same merits.

Do your reputational due diligence.

A partner’s reputation becomes your reputation. Make sure they maintain no associations that could undermine your efforts. There are many opportunities for powerful partnerships with nonprofits and for-profits alike, so long as they’re not burnishing their legitimacy at the expense of yours. Certain public databases can help identify any red flags of potential partners so you can stay clear of pairing up with an organization or with groups antithetical to your mission. But also keep an eye out for green flags using these same tools that might point to partners considered by the public as good stewards.

Do an honest self-audit.

Turn that spirit of honest examination inward and investigate where you lack internal bandwidth or manpower. Just as crucial is acknowledging what’s already fine-tuned within your organization to avoid bringing in partners who ultimately—at no fault of their own—provide input and expertise that you already have.

Take your team’s temperature.

The surest way to conduct the above audit? Solicit feedback on what supports are most urgently needed. Ask department leads to crowdsource suggestions from their teams so that everyone’s voice is heard. This effort can pay off in building collective spirit as well as gathering streamlined intel that you can act upon.