How to Plan for Sustainability

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	Draw partners from more than one source. Canvas your community and look for potential partners and volunteers from a variety of sources, including schools and colleges, nonprofit organizations and charities, community and religious organizations, foundations, businesses, government agencies, and the media. Select partners from at least three of these sources.
	Partners must benefit, too. Always be able to answer a potential partner's question, "What's in it for me?" Develop a plan to approach each potential partner with expected benefits, such as creating favorable publicity, better fulfillment of the partner's community mission, development of a new consumer market, or expansion of an existing base.
	Partnership building requires a team approach. Owners, residents, and staff must be involved in identifying and soliciting partners. Owners should take the lead by forming a steering committee, board of directors, or residents' council that can form a partnership development plan and help provide the labor needed to individually solicit each partner. Center staff is essential for maintaining partnership contacts and identifying new sources of funding or support.
	Partners are readily attracted to centers that have existing sources of financial support. Multiyear commitments of money, volunteers, or in-kind contributions make a center more sustainable and are likely to attract broader support if partners are confident their contribution is well-invested. Strong alternative sources of funding, such as contributions by the owner or user fees, will help convince partners that the center is a successful endeavor and well worth their support.

If you have any questions on how to find potential partners for your Neighborhood Networks center, contact your local HUD Neighborhood Networks Coordinator or Public Housing Neighborhood Networks Grant Manager.