Pathways to Partnership
Turning Curiosity Into Strategic Collaboration
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Rethinking How Nonprofits Work Together
What is Pathways to Partnership?
Southern Nevada nonprofit leaders have consistently told us they want deeper learning around collaboration, coalition-building, and successful partnership models. This learning experience responds directly to that call.
Pathways to Partnership: Turning Curiosity Into Strategic Collaboration is a one-day orientation designed to help nonprofit leaders explore collaboration with clarity, realism, and intention.
Partnership is not a single decision—it is a process. This program serves as the first step in a pathway toward strategic collaboration, helping organizations understand what’s possible before making structural commitments.
Participants will explore the full range of partnership models—from joint programming and shared services to formal alliances, mergers, and integration—while examining the conditions required for success, including governance, trust, culture, and readiness.
Following this orientation, organizations may choose to continue along the pathway through technical assistance, readiness assessments, facilitated matchmaking, negotiation support, and implementation coaching.
The Collaborative Map
The infographic below presents the range of ways that independent organizations can come together in pursuit of a shared goal.
Pathways to Partnership Schedule
Thursday, May 14 , 2026
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
In-person Location: TBA upon acceptance into the program
What You'll Experience
Our Pathways to Partnership program includes guided activities, practical worksheets, and structured reflection to help you move from curiosity to informed consideration. Participants will explore:
- Partnership Models: The full spectrum—from joint programming and shared services to mergers and integration.
- Success Factors & Roadblocks: Common myths, governance considerations, risk tolerance, and concerns around autonomy and self-interest.
- The Partnership Process: Key steps in exploration and negotiation, including time and cost considerations.
- Leading Change: Building buy-in, engaging boards, identifying champions, managing culture, and developing a communication strategy.
- Integration Planning: What to consider across programs, finance, HR, technology, and governance before formalizing agreements.
You’ll leave with a clear understanding of your organization’s readiness, a framework for board-level conversations, and defined next steps if you choose to continue along the partnership pathway through our technical assistance program.
Who Should Apply?
This program is designed for Executive Directors, senior leadership teams, and board members from nonprofit organizations that are:
- Experiencing gowth or capacity strain
- Considering shared services or joint programming
- Exploring sustainability, succession, or restructuring
- Interested in expanding impact through collaboration
Because partnership decisions require governance and leadership alignment, applicants from the same organization are strongly encouraged to apply as a pair—ED + Board Member or ED + Senior Leader—to maximize learning, alignment, and impact.
We also encourage leaders who may not currently be pursuing partnership to apply. Even if collaboration or structural partnership is not on your immediate agenda, this experience is designed to build awareness of the full spectrum of options and prepare you to thoughtfully evaluate and act on partnership opportunities as they arise.
Tuition
Please don’t let financial concerns prevent you from applying to Pathways to Partnership.
We are deeply committed to making our capacity-building programs accessible to all. Thanks to the generosity of our funding partners, any nonprofit professional who is accepted into our Pathways to Partnership program can participate at no cost.
That said, if you or your organization can contribute to the cost of participation, your support will help us extend this opportunity to even more local nonprofit leaders. Each seat is valued at $300.
What are the Next Steps?
If you are interested in participating in Pathways to Partnership , click the button below to apply.
What you'll need to submit a complete application:
✅ Knowledge of the following:
- Your organization's operating budget
- Your organization's staff size
- Your organization's current state of development (e.g. emerging, mature)
- Your organization's history of partnership or collaboration efforts
Applications are open March 30 through April 24, 2026 (Deadline to Submit Extended!). Seating is limited.
Questions? Dr. Alee Moore can help.
Led by the Experts at La Piana Consulting
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About Nevada GrantLab
Nevada GrantLab (“GrantLab”) is a Las Vegas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with fellow local nonprofits to help them build capacity and unlock resources that help communities thrive. Our work is backed by a network of passionate experts who provide guidance and technical assistance, and is made possible by generous philanthropic support.