January 30, 2019

For the last decade, HP Canada and WWF-Canada have worked together on the internationally recognized Living Planet @ Work program – a flagship initiative that was designed to harness the collective power of individuals to drive sustainable business practices and forge an important link between sustainability, employee engagement and philanthropy.

Business sustainability leadership expert Coro Strandberg has summarized the journey and key elements of the 10-year partnership into a case study, providing key insights on how companies and non-profits can work together to address the biggest, most complex and critical issues of our time. 

Five Key Success Factors to a Successful Collaboration

The WWF-Canada and HP Canada case study outlines the mutual benefits of a cross-sector collaboration and the key success factors necessary to making it work.

1. Build long-term relationships based on mutual benefit. Plan initiatives with a long-term perspective and seek mutually beneficial, reciprocal outcomes.
2. Co-create projects and programs. Combine insights and perspectives from both organizations to develop, test and scale prototypes and models.
3. Equally contribute a range of resources beyond just financial contributions. This includes knowledge, expertise, connections, credibility, people and other assets.
4. Build trust, equity and diversity by keeping communications open and honest. This lowers barriers to working together and creates the groundwork for a deeper, more meaningful collaboration.
5. Gain leadership support. CEOs and senior executives on that support the collaboration can empower their staff with resources and time to bring the partnership to life.

HP Canada and WWF-Canada’s collaboration demonstrates how a partnership between two organizations can evolve from simple and transactional into strategic, transformational and innovative

Visit atwork.wwf.ca to sign-up for Living Planet @ Work and become a champion for change within your company.