Government and Nonprofit Sector Partnership Model: The Shelby County (TN) Nonprofit Committee
Momentum Nonprofit Partners, Shelby County government, and Christian Brothers University are excited to release a new case study that explores government and nonprofit partnerships using the Shelby County Nonprofit Committees as a replicable model. This case study has been developed in partnership with Momentum Nonprofit Partners, representatives from Shelby County (TN) government and Christian Brothers University. The purpose for this case study is to highlight the impact that intentional and structured partnerships between the government and nonprofit sectors have on the communities they serve. This case study will explore the steps Shelby County took to establish their evolving government-nonprofit sector partnership model as well as the impact that this innovative partnership model has made and will continue to make in the Mid-South community. The case study is authored by Natalie Jones of Christian Brothers University and Andrea Hill of Momentum Nonprofit Partners.
Shelby County’s government, under the leadership of Mayor Lee Harris, initially developed the Shelby County Nonprofit Committee (referred to as the Committee) as a partnership with Momentum Nonprofit Partners to support better engagement between the government and the nonprofit sectors. Momentum Nonprofit Partners is an Independent Sector partner, and their mission statement reads, “We build the momentum of the nonprofit sector to create equitable, measurable, and lasting change.” As a representative organization for other nonprofits in Shelby County, they were a natural fit as a liaison for Shelby County government.
The goal of the Committee is to build and strengthen the engagement between the government and the nonprofit sectors in Shelby County, TN. The Committee is regularly convened to gather government representatives and nonprofit professionals together to identify areas of meaningful impact within the Shelby County community based on shared common goals that were established at the beginning of the partnership. The framework for all Committee 2 activities is to address local needs, create evidence-informed solutions, and improve the lives of Shelby County residents. Intentional consideration also went into the shaping of the Committee’s composition where consideration was made to ensure that there was fair; including equal representation for all nonprofits, regardless of size, voluntary participation, and an inclusive and equitable environment. The Committee is limited to organizations who maintain 501c3 status within Shelby County.
The authors of this case study, Natalie Jones of Christian Brothers University and Andrea Hill of Momentum Nonprofit Partners, also shed light on the steps taken to engage such a partnership, offer strategies to foster engagement within a government/nonprofit partnership framework, and spotlight some strategies for developing a shared governance and purpose. The intent of this case study is to assist other jurisdictions in developing their own partnership model and replicate the success seen in Shelby County. As this model is reproduced, the authors hope that other communities will reap the benefits seen by government and nonprofits working innovatively together to implement collective solutions.
Staff from Momentum Nonprofit Partners and Shelby County government will present the findings and recommendations from this case study at the 12th Symposium on Public Policy for Nonprofits on September 22, 2023.