Inspiration on Collaboration from September’s Nonprofit Leaders Advance

Last month, Amanda White Consulting hosted a session of Nonprofit Leaders Advance focused on collaboration. An amazing panel of nonprofit leaders and funders joined us, and each shared some excellent examples and tips. The take-aways were so valuable, we knew we had to share them with our entire AWC community. We hope you’re as energized and inspired by their advice and examples as we were! See below for recorded inspiration from our panelists.

Panelists (left to right): Amanda White (facilitator), Erin Trondson, Jason Fields, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, Ellen Carlson and Allen Ebert present to Leaders Advance attendees on September 16, 2025.

Examples of collaboration from our panelists: 

• “Holy Wisdom Monastery is hosting a chili cook-off "friend-raiser" for REAP Food Group, which brings new visitors and potential supporters to the monastery. REAP and Holy Wisdom continue to support each other at events. It strengthens us together.”

- Erin Trondson, Executive Director, Holy Wisdom Monastery 

• “The Center is working with UW-Madison on several research studies. We just launched a study on what the community thinks about The Center and what they want to see.” 

– Jason Fields, Chief Operations Officer, The Center for Black Excellence & Culture 

• “The Latino Support Network is a group that has been meeting for 25 years. It started around a kitchen table and now sees attendance of about 50 people every month. The group does not have any formal structure, but they come together to share information, personally connect, and work together. “

- Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, VP/Social Impact and Belonging, UW School of Medicine & Public Health 

• “WayForward worked with 36 other food pantries to share in a press release and full-page ad in the State Journal, highlighting the issue of food insecurity. Our voices were so much stronger together.”

- Ellen Carlson, Executive Director, WayForward Resources 

• “The MYArts building houses two very different organizations, Children’s Theater of Madison and Madison Youth Choirs. We both work in the arts, but are different in size, scope and philosophy. We always approached our work, not from a place of being equal, but equitable.”

- Allen Ebert, Executive Director, Children’s Theater of Madison  

Advice from the panel: 

The Foundation of Strong Partnerships

Panelists discussed the importance of establishing trust, assuming best intentions, focusing on what you can bring to the partnership (as opposed to what you can get from it), and listening for understanding.

A Funder’s Perspective on Collaboration

Shiva Bidar-Sielaff provided a funder’s perspective on nonprofit collaboration, saying it’s important to share how your organization already collaborates, as many funders may not be aware of all the ways nonprofits already work together.

Sharing Space With Other Nonprofits

Panelists said reciprocal trust and transparency are important aspects to successful partnerships. Several gave examples of how lifting other organizations or sharing resources elevated all involved.

Collaboration Longevity and Navigating Challenges

Panelists shared advice on addressing unequal partnerships, including clear communication and taking decisive action. Jason Fields reminded the group that collaborators may move on before seeing the final result of the collaboration, and to be comfortable with that. Partnerships and results can take time to come to fruition.

If you’re a nonprofit leader who would like to connect with and learn from your fellow executive directors/CEOs on topics like this, join us for our quarterly Nonprofit Leaders Advance sessions! Next event: Wednesday, November 19, 8-9am at Gilda’s Club Madison.