ANIMAL SERVICES JOIN FORCES
Collaboration better than competition, says Eyal Lichtmann.
Competition is central to the free enterprise economy, and that includes the not-forprofit sector. Not-for-profits (NFPs) face some of the same challenges businesses confront, including limited financial resources, competition for public attention, technological changes, and political, social and economic conditions.
These challenges have forced NFPs to integrate business efficiencies, to be more strategic and to articulate their vision succinctly. Competition forces NFPs to deliver their services more economically, and empowers staff and volunteers to meet their shared mission despite inevitable limitations. It also forces NFPs to be more collaborative and co-operative with sector partners and the corporate community.
While competition can strengthen an organization, there are times when cooperation, co-ordination and collaboration are a better choice. Sometimes NFPs working together can be more productive. This is the case in a partnership recently developed between the Regional Animal Protection Society and the B.C. SPCA. The Regional Animal Protection Society recently opened the RAPS Animal Hospital, a not-for-profit, full-service veterinary facility.
An article in Philanthropy News Digest indicates that most non-profits team up with other NFPs to boost organizational efficiencies and effectiveness, or drive broader social change. The study indicates that NFPs partner and collaborate for three main reasons based on the 3C model (co-operation, co-ordination, collaboration). We have found a way to maximize the impact of our work, and to strengthen the impacts of the B.C. SPCA’s work as well.
The RAPS Animal Hospital is a model of collaboration across sectors. First, RAPS partnered with the corporate community to obtain invaluable resources for the hospital. Applewood Nissan at the Richmond Auto Mall donated a 6,000-square-foot facility, and Vancity Credit Union stepped in to finance the $1-million cost for construction, equipment and supplies. Architects and builders also donated portions of their services. These benefits are leveraged by RAPS and passed on in the form of reduced fees for services at the RAPS Animal Hospital, which benefits the public and now the B.C. SPCA.
Our organizations have different histories but similar responsibilities and constituencies. Our overall missions are identical: the welfare of animals. RAPS and the B.C. SPCA know our core competencies and the resources we have available to leverage in support of the other. That allows our NFPs to accomplish our missions by increasing our reach and enhancing the effectiveness of monies donated by our supporters, doubling the return on investment for monies entrusted to our organizations. We are partnering with the B.C. SPCA to provide more veterinary care at lower cost
The RAPS Animal Hospital will provide veterinary services to the animals cared for by the B.C. SPCA. And just like every client who chooses the hospital, the B.C. SPCA will be supporting the entire range of programs both our organizations deliver. Revenue generated from the hospital, and monies saved by the B.C. SPCA on animal health care, help us fund the myriad programs and services each of our organizations provide in support of animal welfare.
When the B.C. SPCA chooses the new animal hospital they get the excellent veterinary care they need plus the expenditures on vet care are reinvested in programs that are identical to the B.C. SPCA mission of animal welfare.
That’s a double return on investment for supporters and donors. The benefits to both organizations are exponential. The partnership ensures more efficient utilization of scarce resources and even more responsive treatment of animals. As our partnership matures and grows, we will have gone from small co-operative programs to developing powerful collaborative initiatives that will have greater impacts for our communities.
Through this strategic and beneficial partnership, we are able to apply the heart of the NFP sector (philanthropic mission) with the head of the corporate world ( best business practices) to deliver the most powerful results possible to the mutual constituencies we serve.