Process, Groundwork, and Follow up

Process

Individuals within the organization that have a stake in the partnership and the programs that it will affect, should be offered the opportunity to use the filter to critically evaluate the partnership. Organization management and program staff should rate the partnership individually in order to examine the partnership as critically as possible. The individual ratings can then be compiled and discussed to summarize the overall view of the partnership. The process is not lengthy, but should be taken seriously with due diligence.

Groundwork

An organization must complete the following groundwork in order to use the Partnership Filter and Application Tool, to properly assess the alignment of a potential partnership with its organizational mission, vision, values, and operating principles:

• Clearly state and understand the potential partner organization's vision, objectives, goals, core values, and operating principles. As a starting point, those items must be clearly stated and input into the filter template.
• Be clear on the roles and expectations of all partners in the proposed partnership. In order to critically analyse the partnership, the goals of the partnership and the steps that need to be taken to achieve these goals must be understood
• Critically analyse the potential partner - research the organizational culture of the potential partner and their role in the area in which they wish to partner. Understanding the organization of the potential partner, its goals and objectives, and priorities for the programming are vital to effectively screening the partnership with the filter tool.

Follow up

After the groundwork has been done and the potential partnership had been analysed through the filter and discussed by all stakeholders, the partnership is accepted, rejected, or it is decided that further work must be done in order for the organization to be able to enter into a partnership. The terminology of "filter" implies that challenges will arise and be identified. Once the issue has been addressed, then the potential partner will pass smoothly without hesitation through all areas of consideration.