The following sections are expanded explanations of and details about various tasks you should work through in your partnership.

 

 

Although the team leader of a North American Affiliate is primarily responsible for recruiting and selecting members for your team, all members of the team can help with this. The best team will have members with a wide variety of God-given skills and talents.

 

Your challenge is to identify the desired business skills for your team. Perhaps you will recruit someone with accounting skills, people and fundraising skills, writing and communications skills, or administration skills. All of these roles are important in making your team the best it can be.

 

When you have people in mind, approach them and share your passion for the work you are doing and how they can contribute. With the trip and new relationships in mind, most people will decide to give it a shot, and your team will start to grow.

 

 

Fundraising is an essential part of your role. If you feel you have the skills, go for it. Otherwise, you may designate someone on your team who is best suited to concentrate on fundraising.

 

Before you make funding requests, it is important to gather information about your potential donor. Ask them questions and be able to provide well-informed answers about the latest activities and impacts of your project. When the time comes to make a request, be clear, sincere and make a direct ask. Remember, you are not asking people to do something that they don’t enjoy. As wise stewards of God’s resources, donors find great joy in supporting effective efforts to address the causes that they care about.

 

Many fund-raising efforts can fit into your schedule. A great place to start with fundraising is within your own networks. Talk to your extended family, your co-workers, and people at church. These people will be the most intrigued with what you are doing and willing to support you in your work.

 

Take a look at successful fund-raising efforts of other affiliates. You can also talk to the Partners staff about approaching corporate or family foundations.

Remember to keep your donors updated and involved in your work. This will drive them to keep giving!

 

At any point in your fund-raising efforts, please feel free to contact the Partners Worldwide staff for help or advice (email). The Partners team is ready to support you in your fund-raising efforts to create jobs and transform lives!

 

There are several resources that we have collected to help you with your fundraising efforts, and also a further reading list in case you want to learn more on your own. Links to these are below.

 

 

One of your tasks is to keep informed as a team. Good communication builds trust and increases the effectiveness of your team and that of your international affiliate. Monthly conference calls or meetings (if everyone is in the same area) will strengthen your team and your relationship with your international affiliate. Through these meetings your team will be able to share their needs, pray together, and practice accountability.

 

Most of our North American teams meet every month and also communicate monthly or bi-monthly with their international affiliates. You can decide what works best for your team. Communication with your international affiliate will enable you to review finances, review your commitments, and keep up on recent project developments.

 

It is best to include at least one team member in addition to the team leader on your phone calls to your international affiliate.

 

 

A guideline of questions and topics to talk through on international calls are the following:

 

Progress on Annual Partnership Agreement

Metrics and Financials

What is going well?

What mentoring needs do you have?

Challenges

Action items

Pray together

 

 

It is a firm expectation of your team that you will travel once a year to visit and mentor in person your international affiliate. Your annual trip creates, builds, and maintains your relationship with your international affiliate. Through review and evaluation of progress, your team will be able to mentor and be mentored by the people you are visiting, which will strengthen your next annual plan. These trips will be experiences you and your team members will never forget! Follow the link below to learn more about the international trip.

 

 

Partners Worldwide conferences bring together individuals and teams from around the world who are involved in the same kingdom work as you. Past conferences have been a time of celebration for what God has enabled us to do, an encouragement to all involved, a time of education on the Partners Worldwide concept, and a time of peer learning and networking with our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world.

 

These conferences feature a variety of spiritual and professional oriented seminars and inspirational speakers and are held bi-annually in North America (even-numbered years), and International regional locations (odd-numbered years).

 

Past Participants have found these conferences to be one of the most exciting aspects of being involved in Partners Worldwide.

 

 

It’s important for the organization to understand why it exists. It is also helpful to identify a vision that expresses the dreams of the organization. 

 

 

Identify the needed materials and process for establishing a legal entity.

The types of organizations and the process for filing organizational papers will vary from country to country.

            - Creating Document (i.e. Articles of Incorporation, constitution) that indicates Name, purpose, names & addresses of directors, language identifying applicable laws

- Operating document (i.e. Bylaws) is a document that helps govern the organization and would be helpful in addressing issues such as purpose, election & duties of officers, directors, role of members, executive, committees; meetings, fiscal year

- Form a Board of Directors. It’s important to identify leadership for the In-Country affiliate. It is also helpful to identify roles, elect officers and write job descriptions. Forming committees at some point will lend itself to moving the organization forward. (BoardSource, 2004)

- Name the Organization. Obtain instructions for registering your corporate name and obtaining an ID number. You want to also be identified in your community

 

Develop a strategic plan (Annual Partnership Agreement)

 

By developing a plan you can establish goals for the organization based on your mission and purpose. Strategic plans typically range from 1 to 3 years but most are reviewed annually.

 

Create a budget (part of the Annual Partnership Agreement)

 

The budget and financial plan should come out of the strategic planning process. It’s important to identify how your membership fees, disbursements and cash flow support the needs and objectives. 

 

 

Establishing an accounting system helps to put in place a system of controls. It is helpful to have financial experience on your board or another option is to obtain outside experience. Important documentation should be kept in official files of the organization.

 

 

Measure what your mission is about, evaluate how you are doing, and provide feedback to the stakeholders.