Collaborators are individuals and organisations who care about the impact their investments make.
Typically you are a philanthropist, an impact investor, an angel or venture capitalist, a private equity firm, a family office, family foundation, corporate foundation or high net worth individual – but not necessarily so.
You are tired of handing over your valued funds to social ventures because of the imminent tax deduction and some ‘feel-good’ factor. You want to be a part of the change you are creating. You want your knowledge, expertise and hands-on contributions to be valued just as much as your money. Certainly, you want to leave a legacy of meaningful social contribution and you want to be able to evidence this with conviction.
You can potentially offer one or more of the following, to the right cause;
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Pro-bono services, e.g. skills, knowledge, equipment, assets, physical space or infrastructure.
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Social procurement contracts
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Commercial mentorship
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Corporate volunteers
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A social aspect into your business that will add value to your company's value proposition.
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Direct financial support, results-based financial incentives, or reducing payments over time
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Low/ no interest loans to assist scaling of social outcomes
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Underwriting for commercial loans for social ventures wanting to scale.
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Equity in a social enterprise, and receipt of associated returns based on profits
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Staff payroll deductions, or point-of-sale donation requests
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A combination of any of the above, or something entirely unthought of yet!
Find a listed cause here, or contact Impact Seekers directly to discuss your philanthropic and investment aspirations.
THE COLLABORATORS
You are a Social Doer if you operate an organisation that has a lasting positive impact on the lives of individuals, families, communities or the world (or aspire to).
Typically you are a charity, not-for-profit, social enterprise, social business or social entrepreneur– but not necessarily so. You are sick of writing repetitive grant applications, asking family and friends for loans, and selling raffle tickets to scrape together the resources needed to achieve your vision.
Although funding is important to the delivery of services, you know that money is not everything. You believe that you can make a bigger difference if you had a team of experts around you, and a long term plan. You think that private investment may help you do this.
You can potentially offer partners one or more of the following;
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Credibility that improves public reputation
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Access to new networks and customer markets
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Additional space and physical infrastructure for partners
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Additional skills, locations and expertise to partners
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Diversification into new areas of work
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The ability to capture beneficial data
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Increased positive media profile
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Improved staff morale and employee loyalty
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Greater business efficiencies through the supply of products and services
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A thriving community in which businesses can recruit great employees
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A combination of any of the above, or something entirely un-thought of yet!
THE DOERS
THE IMPACT SEEKER PROCESS
MATCHING COLLABORATORS WITH CAUSES
Step 1
We list organisations with a social cause (the doers) and match their cause to potential partners and investors (the collaborators).
Step 2
We ensure doers can measure the impact they make and are well positioned to attract private investment. Doers bring a range of contributions to a partnership.
Step 3
We assist collaborators align
their philanthropic, investment or CSR goals with causes that are 'partnership ready'. Collaborators bring a range of contributions to a partnership - not just money.
Step 4
We document the terms of partnership agreement, and support the development of the required financial and contractual arrangements necessary to deliver on social impact.
Step 5
We facilitate partnership reviews and evaluation that measure the strength of the partnership and the impact its work has on changing the lives of individuals, families, communities and environments in need.
"A Partnership Broker is an active 'go-between' who supports partners in navigating their collaboration journey"
PARTNERSHIP BROKERS
Navigating successful collaborations is complex. It involves a host of interrelated forces including personalities, relationships, values, agendas, risk tolerance, expectations, emotions and cultures.
Too often partnerships are derailed for a multitude of complex reasons. Evidence indicates that investing in the partnership process increases the success that a partnership will achieve its stated objectives and maximise its social impact. Skilled partnership intermediaries (Partnership Brokers) support and strengthen the partnership process and can respond to any issues early. This enables the partnership can get on with focusing on achieving what is important.
The Partnership Brokers Association is an international body which is setting standards for good collaborative practice, and takes responsibility for nurturing this skilled profession as it evolves with contemporary evidence-based practice.
Although there are many people operating in the collaborative space, Partnership Brokers that have undertaken the Partnership Brokers training, and/ or have gone on to become Accredited PBA Partnership Brokers, have been trained in the most effective way to create successful partnerships.
All Accredited Partnership Brokers undertake ongoing professional development and commit to the 10 Principles of Brokering Good Practice.