HIDDEN AGENDAS REPORT

Hidden Agendas: Stereotypes and Cultural Barriers to Corporate-Community Partnerships identifies and illuminates for the first time the often invisible and unspoken barriers impeding the effectiveness and efficiency of cross-sector partnerships. The preliminary findings of this research have been well received at presentations to the Council on Foundations Annual Conference, Goodwill Industries International Annual Meeting, The Conference Board, New School University, and other prestigious venues.

The research finds that the problem is twofold. First, many nonprofit leaders and business executives harbor serious negative stereotypes about one another that undermine the trust necessary for successful partnership. Second, the cultural dynamics and linguistics of for-profit and nonprofit organizations are so distinctive that executives and nonprofit representatives unknowingly reinforce many of the negative perceptions held by their counterparts. These dynamics create a dysfunctional backdrop against which even organizations with common goals have difficulty forming successful partnerships.  

In addition to a detailed analysis of the research findings, the report identifies the implications of the research for business and nonprofit leaders and makes specific recommendations for overcoming challenges and leveraging opportunities.