Build and Bridge Workbook
SUSTAINABILITY
Fostering sustainable and thriving partnerships.
Sustainability is about creating the conditions partnerships to be sustained and to thrive over time. Commitment to shared goals, organizational support, and resources such as staff time, funding, and shared tools determine a partnership’s sustainability.
Planning for sustainability helps partners identify the resources needed to continue their work and consider how to share responsibility and stay accountable to one another. It can also help them prepare for and navigate changes in staffing, funding, or organizational priorities that may threaten the partnership’s long-term success.
Building sustainability is essential to creating successful partnerships.
Use the key characteristics, reflection questions, and resources below to evaluate what your partnership needs for long-term success and how partners can work together to sustain their work.
Key Characteristics of Successful Partnerships
The Key Characteristics of Successful Partnerships were developed to share what we know helps public health and community partnerships succeed. Guided by these characteristics, the Strengthening Public Health Partnerships Workbook helps teams learn, reflect, and take action to strengthen their partnerships. Explore the characteristics below and learn more.
Hover over the graphic to learn more.
Resource Sharing and Funding
- When possible, jointly secure dedicated resources and funding for sustained collaboration, not just short-term, transactional support
- Share resources and complementary assets across partners, valuing each organization’s strengths
- Provide supportive infrastructure, including staff, to support ongoing partnership activities
Reflection Questions
1.
What skills need to be developed to more effectively move forward?
2.
What organizational shifts need to happen in order for this partnership to sustain and thrive?
3.
What resources do you need to sustain this partnership (staffing, technology, time, etc.), and what baseline budget is needed to sustain this work? What would be really nice to have if money was no object?
4.
How will you decide who will be the lead organization for funding opportunities?
5.
How will you search for funding opportunities?
6.
How will you search for funding opportunities?
