blueprints

212 | toolkit: an idea, a pencil, and paper
6. Be prepared to hear “no” from one or more places, and have
backup plans.
7. Be prepared to be flexible or to negotiate (for example, offer to
changes dates or times or to pay a damage deposit) to get the
space you want.
B. Partners
1. Build partnerships with individuals.
a. If you haven’t already, identify people among your friends
who share your values, have good ideas, and are reliable,
and invite them to join you.
b. Working with them, identify others in the community,
perhaps people you know less well or mostly by reputation,
who have specific skills or resources to offer. Don’t
cultivate relationships based only on money—even if you
bring people and organizations on board that may eventually
give you money, right now you’re looking for
shared values and passion combined with something only
specific people can bring to your project.
c. Arrange formal meetings with these people.
d. Prepare your pitch:
i. Describe your program.
ii. Tell people why you are approaching them in particular—their
expertise, skills, connections, ideas.
iii. Be specific about what you want from them and the
roles they might play.
iv. Tell them what they have to gain from their
involvement.
v. Ask them what they think they might have to offer
that you haven’t thought of.
vi. Let your passion engage theirs.
vii. Ask them to recommend other people you should
talk to.
e. Make sure to follow up right away with a note and a
phone call.
2. Build partnerships with nongovernment and government
organizations.