The Opportunities and Challenges of Partnership Requests

Virtually every day for the last several weeks, National Community Action Foundation has been contacted by groups that want to participate in some of the weatherization windfall from the economic stimulus. This is another example of the challenges that come with opportunity, as this deluge of requests requires a lot of time to sort through.

I have been contacted by senior groups, disadvantaged youth groups, unions, those who want to help with employment and training, city and county governments, the private sector and a variety of other parts of American society. Many are under the assumption that Community Action is unable to handle all of the weatherization money included in the stimulus package. (However, I must say there is a great amount of confidence at the local level, and our network is stepping up to the plate nicely on this. Keep up the great work!)

Although partnerships are crucial in Community Action, our network must make strategic decisions about who we partner with and why.

NCAF’s recent partnership with ExxonMobil is really starting to accelerate. (For those who haven't yet heard, ExxonMobil is donating $5 million to NCAF to support projects that will expand the scale and scope of existing training programs so workers are well-prepared for sustainable careers in the growing fields of energy efficiency and weatherization.)

NCAF was working with ExxonMobil on the specifics of this partnership months before the stimulus package ever materialized. The partnership is based on our common goals of increased energy efficiency and economic development.

We have created a small board with a couple ExxonMobil representatives and a couple NCAF representatives for program oversight. Next, we will create an advisory committee of approximately 20 of our best and brightest Community Action personnel and other experts in weatherization and training that will help design the request for proposals and the scope of the work. There also may be other clusters of advisors to assist with public relations or other aspects of the project.

I expect the advisory board to come together in April, and full partnership details should follow soon after. Keep watching this blog and the NCAF web site for more information as it becomes available.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington