Why Nonprofit Collaboration is Key to Supporting Complex Students
A nearly imperceptible filling of light into the world begins to bring warmth and clarity to what the darkness had hidden only moments before. As seconds pour into minutes, patches of light become distinct from the shadows surrounding them. Suddenly, bursting above the dark and distant treeline, a radiant beam breaks through and emblazons the ground, sending shadows fleeing. Light has finally come for a new day. As the sun labors on toward her fullest potential, light is no longer a thing to be hoped for but evident all around. Although the shadows still exist where obstinate impediments linger, the abundance of light has transformed the cold and shapeless black into a vibrant picture of life.
If only the work of transforming the figurative darkness of our world into light could be as seemingly effortless as the cosmic powers that transform our day-to-day. However, there is hope that just as a single ray of light does not illuminate the day on its own but only when it is gathered together with innumerable other rays, so may the work of a nonprofit reach its fullest potential when gathered together with a collective of other light-seekers.
“However, there is hope that just as a single ray of light does not illuminate the day on its own but only when it is gathered together with innumerable other rays, so may the work of a nonprofit reach its fullest potential when gathered together with a collective of other light-seekers.”
Every nonprofit organization is born at the conjunction of purpose and passion. For many, it begins with an emboldened soul enlightened with the idea that the world can be a brighter place if consideration and effort were given to a particular niche area of influence. What these passionate world-changers soon come to realize is that while their purpose may be beautiful and selfless, and their passion unmatched, unless they are joined together with a larger collective of like-minded individuals, their impact will be minimal at best. Then comes the sudden acute awareness that the seemingly niche mission the founders set out to accomplish is actually interconnected with an ever-widening list of related needs that are far too broad for one entity to undertake. Our nonprofit is left with the choice of expanding its purpose to address these associated issues by itself, thus taking on the need for additional resources, or partnering with other organizations whose purpose may align with our own. One of these paths will lend itself toward burnout and extinguishing the light of influence we hoped to shine altogether. The other will lend itself toward an ever-expanding picture of beauty as bright as the noonday.
In the case of complex students, we must consider why these young ones are stuck in the dark to begin with. What impediments are blocking the light from reaching their small patch of the world? Is it a lack of resources at home leading to insufficient nutrition, clothing, or other necessities? Is it an unstable family dynamic or other experience that has left them feeling isolated, hyper-vigilant, and bent toward self-preservation? Is it a lack of attunement to a trustworthy adult that has left them feeling uncertain and desperately crying out for someone to notice them? Is it a physical or cognitive difference that leaves them in need of additional support to overcome the odds against them? Whatever it may be, it stands to reason that no singular person or nonprofit was ever intended to overcome all of the interconnected needs of a particular student or group. In our best Ms. America impressions, we may all want world peace, but that doesn’t make us capable of accomplishing it single-handedly. The best hope for these students to truly be able to flourish requires a collaboration of a variety of uniquely specialized entities working together, shining light in the same direction, in order to fully and adequately illuminate the areas of darkness in each child’s life.
“The best hope for these students to truly be able to flourish requires a collaboration of a variety of uniquely specialized entities working together, shining light in the same direction, in order to fully and adequately illuminate the areas of darkness in each child’s life.”
So, how do we do this? Building an effective network of nonprofit partnerships requires a few foundational considerations:
Know your mission and stick to it. Being unclear in your organization’s purpose will lead to ineffectiveness as you scramble from one idea to another. Remember, you cannot solve every problem, but you can contribute to a solution in a way that is unique to you.
Be confident in your strengths and honest about your weaknesses. To know where to look for purposeful partnerships, you must first have a clear individuality, being confident in what you bring to the table, and what areas you need support in.
Build the network before you need the network. Having an established relationship with related organisations will create a more harmonious and efficient response when a need arises.
Overlap is okay; replication is inefficient. You may find some partners who overlap in the people you serve or the services you provide; however, their approach has a slightly different angle. Rather than seeing them as competition, recognizing where your strengths differ can ensure that you support the same group of people in a fuller way together. Competing and replicating work just for the sake of putting a new name on it can actually cause confusion among the client population and lead to mistrust.
Collaboration requires continual communication. Keep your network of partners “in the know” to an appropriate level and pay attention to the work they are doing. Doing so will minimize duplication of efforts, increase enthusiasm and effectiveness, and create a thriving and nurturing community.
Celebrate milestones and victories together. Celebration is an essential part of perpetuating your organization’s mission. When we take the time to recognize and honor one another’s accomplishments, we not only strengthen the shared purpose and character of our network, but we also encourage those we serve to trust us.
Nonprofit collaboration for supporting complex youth is not merely a recommended practice, it is absolutely vital. The future lies in the hearts of these individuals, and it is up to us to ensure the light reaches its fullest potential.
