4 Surprising, Inspiring Nonprofit Partnerships
Did you know that donkeys and ostriches can share an enclosure at a zoo? At first glance, seeing these two dramatically different animals living together might seem surprising. However, these animals demonstrate the remarkable benefits of complementary partnerships (shout out to the Niabi Zoo, where I learned this!).
Donkeys, with their loud braying and innate sense of caution, act as vigilant guards, while ostriches, known for their exceptional eyesight, can spot threats from a distance. Together, they create a harmonious partnership, each filling gaps the other cannot.
What This Has to Do With Nonprofits (and You)
The relationship between donkeys and ostriches offers a valuable lesson: Partnerships are crucial for achieving shared goals and maximizing impact.
The partnership between these two animals works because it is based on complementary strengths. This natural collaboration highlights key principles for nonprofit partnerships:
Mutual benefit: Like donkeys and ostriches, nonprofits must ensure that partnerships are reciprocal, where each party brings value and receives benefits.
Shared goals: The partnership thrives when there’s alignment in purpose — whether it’s guarding against predators or tackling social challenges.
Trust and communication: Just as these animals rely on each other’s instincts, nonprofits must build trust and maintain clear communication.
4 Surprising, Inspiring Nonprofit Partnership Examples
Just as donkeys and ostriches create a safer environment together, nonprofits can amplify their impact by working collaboratively. The beauty of partnerships lies in the way diverse strengths come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
We’re a big fan of these four nonprofit partnerships. They all demonstrate the donkey-ostrich principle: a surprising duo that somehow just works.
1. Northern Illinois Food Bank + DoorDash
When you partner with another organization, you’re multiplying what you can offer and diversifying your skillset. We saw that in action with this genius partnership.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank provides 250,000 meals per day. They have many food distribution access points, but people without reliable transportation can’t make it there.
Enter the food bank’s partnership with DoorDash. Together, they fulfill 1,000 orders a week, filling the gap in logistics and bringing DoorDash’s powerful fleet of drivers to the food bank’s doorstep.
SWIM helped integrate local pantries and coordinate the nuts and bolts of using DoorDash. We even got to drive a few rounds of deliveries to test out the partnership!
Randy Stotz, who runs the Lake Forest distribution center, pointed out that this program also addresses the stigma that comes with going to a food bank. "That's one of the other major reasons why people will shy away from going to a food pantry,” Stotz says. “This way, they don't have to.”
DoorDash brought what the food bank needed: vetted, on-call drivers and a fleet of vehicles. Northern Illinois Food Bank gets to live out their mission of providing nutritious food for their neighbors “through partnerships and innovation.”
In return, DoorDash gets to serve a local community in need and enact their vision of “opening the doors that connect us to each other.”
2. Try Pie Bakery + Veridian Credit Union
One of our clients, Try Pie, empowers teen girls with leadership and life skills through employment at a bakery in Waterloo, Iowa. They recently partnered with local credit union Veridian to improve their financial literacy programming for the teens.
Together, they now offer a program called Money Moves, where the participants learn about budgeting, banking, credit, and investing.
Money Moves has led to the girls:
Setting up 529 accounts to save for college
Creating savings accounts to reach their personal goals, like buying a car
Starting their investing journeys with SIMPLE IRAs and CDs
Try Pie’s selection of a local subject matter expert helped them provide more effective classes with clear action steps they could take. The students now had a personal connection with a local bank where they could get help opening their first accounts, bringing their class to life.
Again, this is a donkey-ostrich partnership in action: Try Pie brought Veridian a diverse classroomful of willing young participants they likely wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Veridian brought Try Pie the curriculum, knowledge, and the full strength of a credit union to empower the girls’ financial lives.
3. Food Bank Leadership + AI Training
Sometimes a partnership may be unforeseen. Take Midwest Quality Consulting and SWIM's partnership on the cohort, “Ahead of the Curve: Generative AI for Food Bank Leaders.” This ongoing community is empowering food bank leaders to leverage AI to further their mission.
Justin Massa from Midwest Quality Consulting brings a deep understanding of AI and its practical applications, encouraging leaders to test, learn, and shape its ethical and effective use. SWIM adds deep food bank expertise and guides the cohort to be interactive, practical, and outcome-driven.
No one person is going to solve the issue your nonprofit tackles. Access to food isn’t going to be solved by food banks alone, and it certainly won’t be solved by AI. But by combining the AI wisdom of MQC, the mission and passion of food bank leaders, and the nonprofit resources at SWIM, we’re one step closer.
4. Western Wisconsin Housing Co-op + Habitat for Humanity
When you partner with organizations in the same field as you, you all get to shine.
Take The Starter Home Project, a shared effort to reintroduce a smaller footprint home that is attainable for everyday, hardworking neighbors.
We partnered with the Western Wisconsin Housing Co-op to develop a housing partnership toolkit and The Starter Home Project is the first iteration of this coming to life. The project included partnerships between the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity, economic development entities, builders, and lenders.
Instead of seeing competition, all of these partners saw collaboration. Each organization brought their expertise to the table to craft a resource that will benefit the entire community.
This can also be helpful for your own sanity as a nonprofit leader! It’s so nice to see that other groups have the same values and are doing good work in the community. Sometimes it’s the boost you need to keep going.
Find the Ostrich to Your Donkey
For nonprofits, the lesson is clear: partnerships aren’t just helpful — they’re essential. By embracing collaboration, organizations can expand their reach and deepen their impact in the community.
We’d love to help you expand your network and leverage the strength of partnerships. Schedule a discovery call today.