The Partnership Proof System
A practical system for nonprofits that want partnerships to be repeatable—not random
Most nonprofits don’t struggle with partnerships because they lack ideas. They struggle because they lack proof.
✔️ Proof that partnerships can work for their organization
✔️ Proof that they can execute—not just pitch
✔️ Proof that there’s real value on both sides of the table
That’s exactly what The Partnership Proof System is designed
to create.
It’s a simple, practical, three-stage path that helps nonprofits:
✔️ Build their first piece of partnership proof
✔️ Turn that proof into credibility
✔️ Use that credibility to attract—and close—the next partner
This system grew directly from the ideas I laid out in The Selfish Giving Manifesto: partnerships don’t create strength; they reflect it—and proof is what turns strength into momentum, and momentum into growth.
Stage 1: Partnership Proof Builder
Create proof—before you approach partners
This is where everything starts.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see in nonprofit partnerships is the belief that you need a big, splashy partner before companies will take you seriously.
You don’t.
What you need is proof.
The Partnership Proof Builder is designed for organizations that:
✔️ Don’t have a corporate partnership yet
✔️ Have had one-off partnerships that never repeated
✔️ Or have partnerships—but nothing strong enough to confidently point to as proof
Instead of starting with a massive strategy deck or a long list of “target companies,” we start with something far more effective:
👉 We identify one realistic, aligned partnership you can actually execute.
Together, we assess your mission, audience, assets, and capacity. We get clear on what kind of partnership makes sense right now—not someday, not when you have more staff, not when things magically get easier.
That work includes:
✔️ Clarifying what you can credibly offer a partner today
✔️ Identifying where you already have proximity, trust, or leverage
✔️ Shaping a partnership idea that’s achievable—not aspirational
✔️ Creating a clear path from conversation to commitment
The goal isn’t to build a “program.”
The goal is to build your first piece of partnership proof.
And if that partnership is strong enough, it can become a case study—the foundation for everything that follows.
Stage 2: Partnership Proof Accelerator
Turn proof into momentum—before you scale
Once you have proof, the next mistake nonprofits make is sitting on it.
They treat successful partnerships as private wins rather than public assets.
The Partnership Proof Accelerator is designed for organizations that already have a proof-worthy partnership—and are ready to use it.
This stage is about turning success into credibility.
Because proof doesn’t help if it lives in a folder, a slide deck, or one person’s head. It has to be visible. Portable. Repeatable.
In the Accelerator, that often includes:
✔️ Creating a clear, compelling partnership case study
✔️ Translating results into a language that companies understand
✔️ Making proof easy to see, share, and trust
✔️ Equipping your team with stories and examples that shorten sales cycles
Proof doesn’t replace relationships—it accelerates them.
This is where partnerships stop feeling random—and start feeling repeatable.
Instead of explaining yourself from scratch every time, you lead with evidence. Conversations get easier. Confidence goes up. And prospects start seeing you as a proven partner, not a risky one.
This is the bridge between your first successful partnership—and your next one.
Stage 3: Partnership Proof Flywheel
Leverage proof—to make partnerships inevitable
This is where partnerships stop being something you chase—and start being something you attract.
At this stage, proof isn’t just something you show.
It’s something that works for you, even when you’re not actively pitching.
The Partnership Proof Flywheel connects:
✔️ Your case studies
✔️ Your partnership web page
✔️ Your newsletter and ongoing visibility
Together, they create momentum.
Each partnership fuels the next one.
Each case study makes the next conversation easier.
✔️ Outreach gets warmer
✔️ Sales cycles get shorter
✔️ Confidence goes up—on both sides of the table
Instead of starting from zero every time, you’re building on visible success. Companies don’t just hear that partnerships work for you—they can see it.
This is how proof compounds.
And once the flywheel is turning 🔁, partnerships don’t just happen more often.
They happen with less effort—and better alignment
Where to Start
Most organizations start with the Partnership Proof Builder—because proof comes before scale. If you already have proof, the Accelerator or Flywheel may be the right fit.
Either way, the path is the same:
Build proof → Publish proof → Leverage proof
Does this resonate with you? The best next step is a conversation.
👉 Just hit the SCHEDULE A CALL button on the upper or lower right of this page. ↕️
Or reply to my newsletter and tell me where you’re stuck—I read every response.