Lesson 8 of 10
Building partnerships that compound
Learning objectives
- Identify the 3 partnership types that actually move the needle
- Approach a partner with a usable, not vague, offer
- Structure a partnership so both sides have skin in the game
- Exit a partnership cleanly when it stops compounding
The 3 partnership types that compound
Delivery partners: another organisation that hosts or refers participants (school, GP, council, charity). Funding partners: organisations or funders that back specific programmes. Capacity partners: organisations that share infrastructure (venue, admin, training, comms).
Approach with a usable offer
Don't ask 'can we partner?' — propose. Bring: the cohort you can serve, the outcome, the time commitment from them, the cost (or 'free, fully funded by X'), and the evidence you can deliver. Make the 'yes' a single email.
Skin in the game + clean exits
Strong partnerships have something on the line for both sides — venue access, referrals, co-branded outcomes, joint funding. Weak partnerships are one-sided 'we'll do this for free' arrangements that collapse in 6 months. Write a 1-page MOU with clear review and exit dates.
Founder insight — Derrick Twum
Every CIC that's scaled in MEM has 2–4 anchor partners. None of them have 20 surface-level partners. Depth beats list-length.
Key takeaway
Approach with a usable offer, structure for mutual skin in the game, document with a 1-page MOU.
Reflection questions
- 1Who are your 3 most likely anchor partners?
- 2What usable offer would you bring each?
- 3What does the other side have to commit?
- 4Where do you have a partnership that should be exited?
Action task
Draft a usable partnership offer for one anchor partner. Aim to send it this week.
Worksheet
Work through these prompts. Answers save to this device.
Answers are saved to this device only. Cloud sync coming soon.
Related MEM tools
- Org Network
- Community Builder