here - Tamarack CCI

The Collaboration Continuum 4
The Collaboration Continuum is a framework for thinking strategically about relationships
between nonprofit organizations and businesses. Developed by James Austin and adapted by the
Drucker Foundation from his book The Collaboration Challenge, it consists of three stages:
Philanthropic Transactional Integrative
Philanthropic relationships exist between non-profit organizations and their donors, who
provide tangible resources (such as money or goods) in exchange for intangible benefits from the
non-profit (such as enhanced reputation or fulfillment of the desire to help others). Generally,
these interactions and activities are handled by the non-profit’s development volunteers and
staff and the business’ corporate contributions staff. Strategic value is usually determined by
considering the resources non-profits gain that they can use to achieve desired results, and the
opportunities businesses gain to support their communities and meet their philanthropic
objectives.
Philanthropic Relationship
A garden centre provided expertise and financial support to design the gardens for the Christie
Ossington Neighbourhood Centre transitional housing development in Toronto. The development
consists of 20 bachelor units designed to help formerly homeless men make the transition from
shelter life to more stable accommodations.
Transactional relationships consist of exchanges of resources through specific activities, such as
event sponsorship, licensing, service contracts, volunteer programs, and cause-related
marketing. In comparison with the philanthropic stage, the level of interaction usually
intensifies, relationship management becomes more complex, and a broader sense of partnership
may develop. This stage tends to involve the business’ operating staff (for example, product
development and marketing, human resources, finance) and more non-profit staff from a range
of areas.
Transactional Relationship
Through the Canadian Pacific (CP) Hotels Adopt-a-Shelter Program, many CP Hotels provided items
such as sheets, towels, lamps, beds, dressers, dishes or curtains to local women’s shelters. Once
employees partnered with a shelter, they also became personally involved. Cooks loaned their
expertise to teach women how to create nutritious meals on a low budget. Maintenance staff
volunteered to help the shelters and women in second-stage housing programs by providing
plumbing, heating, and general carpentry services. Special events departments in many of the
hotels included women and children staying at the partner shelters in their holiday celebrations.
Sales and marketing departments staged fundraisers. The program was so successful that they
developed resources for others looking to enter into similar types of programs.
Collaborating with Business for Social Transformation
- 9 -