Each collaborator brings something different to the table, but working with any collaborator means an increase in capacity. Wherever you are lacking capacity—maybe you don’t own video equipment, or maybe you need funding for an oral history of your community—there is a possible collaboration that can fill that gap.
The aim of the technical assistance portion of this guide is to provide tools for community-based organizations to be able to tell stories on their own, without the need for or risks involved with bringing on an external collaborator.
But there are some places where collaboration can be incredibly valuable for a CBO.
What are the risks involved in a collaboration?
The primary risk in a collaboration is that your information—your expert knowledge of your community—can be used to promote another organization, to no benefit to you. This is why it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you want out of a collaboration. Ask yourself, What am I getting out of this? What are they getting out of this? Is the effort equal, and if it is, is it worth the impact this opportunity will have on my organization?
What are the best practices I should follow when collaborating?
- Your collaborator needs you just as much as you need them. Your group provides your collaborator with legitimacy—a bargaining chip worth a LOT more than you might think. Expect decorum and equitable, fair behavior during the collaboration. Know your power—know your worth.
- While it might seem like funding and collaboration opportunities are limited, a bad collaboration can do far more harm than good. Be judicious about your partnerships!
- You can say no. When somebody asks you to collaborate, or when an old collaborator asks to repurpose your past work, you can say no if what they are asking for does not serve your organization. You can also pull out of a collaboration if it isn’t going well.
- Trust your gut. If a collaboration feels off—there’s probably something off about it.
