ABSTRACT
A key advantage of partnerships, often cited by practitioners and analysts, is enhanced personal and organisational learning for all participants. The engagement with professionals working in other sectors enables people to expand their view on a particular challenge, and understand the relationships and interests that shape the situation. Therefore, three stages or generations of partnering can be observed. First-generation partnerships involve a financial contribution from a business to a public-interest organisation, with some sharing of benefit, but little risk to the business, and little commitment beyond the financial donation. Second-generation partnerships involve partners committing to change their internal operations in line with the objectives of the public-interest organisation. Sometimes financial contributions are involved. The main focus is often on the operations of corporate partners. Third-generation partnerships involve partners seeking to change their external operating contexts in order for them to be better supported to achieve internal changes for public goals, and to encourage non-partners to do the same.
