OKC Insights from the Purpose & Partnership Event
Earlier this week, OKC was delighted to co-host Purpose & Partnership: Building Better Values-Aligned and Impact-Driven Charity–Business Collaborations, alongside our strategic partners, Charities Institute Ireland and supported by Business in the Community Ireland.
There was a palpable energy in the room, full of people committed to great causes, meaningful collaboration and real impact. One theme stood out clearly - partnerships must move beyond transactions towards collaborations that are values-aligned, co-created and built for long-term impact. From governance and trust to employee engagement and measurable outcomes, the conversation challenged everyone in the room to raise the bar on what good partnerships look like.
Partnerships work when both sides are in the room
Bringing corporate and charity voices together highlighted both alignment and disconnect - what each side needs, what good looks like and where expectations differ. The room agreed on one thing; if Ireland can build a system where collaboration between sectors is seamless, everyone will win because society wins. That requires intentional design and a willingness to ask deeper questions about purpose, value and impact.
Co-creation is key
The strongest partnerships showcased were built on listening first. Examples such as AIB and FoodCloud illustrated how alignment on mission, sustainability and community outcomes creates space for partnerships to grow over time. Barry Field, Corporate Affairs Director at AIB, described an effective partnership as an active, ‘iterative process’. Starting small, setting clear KPIs, maintaining regular communication and committing multi-annually enabled tangible impact, not just in metrics, but in staff engagement and community trust. Similarly, the evolving partnership between Abbott and the Dillon Quirke Foundation showed the power of co-creation. Moving from annual charity giving to a shared community goal transformed employee connection (over 2,500 hours of employee volunteer hours tracked so far). Staff could see exactly where screenings were happening, how funds were used and how their involvement mattered. The result was a new benchmark - a partnership where organisations speak weekly, challenge each other and grow together.
The business case is human
Throughout the day, speakers emphasised that impact is not only external. Corporate partners highlighted benefits across employee attraction, retention, skills development and organisational culture. When impact ripples beyond an organisation’s walls, it strengthens the organisation itself. That shift reframes responsible business as a strategic necessity rather than an optional add-on, particularly as ESG conversations evolve and the “S” regains urgency in a changing geopolitical landscape. Many of the case studies also underscored that the most effective partnerships were grounded in relationships of equals, built on trust. As Dan Quirke reflected, he sees Abbott as collaborators and, over time, now as true friends.
Governance builds trust, and trust enables scale
An important insight from the day centred on governance. Trust is fragile and hard-won. Stakeholders increasingly expect proof, not promises, and governance provides that proof. When partnerships invest in governance capacity - shared standards, due diligence, transparency - impact becomes measurable and sustainable. Long-term partnerships should prioritise supporting governance because a well-governed partner is a safer, stronger partner. A great analogy used by Áine Myler, CEO of Cii, was to consider governance as a ‘seatbelt’. As an organisation, you can still drive fast, but there’s an added layer of protection.
What makes partnerships last
Across reflections from organisations including Arthur Cox, Women’s Aid, Ecclesiastical Insurance and Dublin Simon Community, several consistent principles emerged:
Values alignment must come first
Expectations should be explicit from the start
Partnerships should extend beyond just the money - skills, space, advocacy and networks matter
Communication is critical; without enough touchpoints, partnerships lose momentum
When partnerships end, charities should be left stronger, not facing a funding cliff
Many speakers also challenged the idea of fixed timelines. Formal partnerships may conclude after three years, but meaningful relationships built on trust and shared vision continue. In the commercial world, if an investment is drawing a strong return, why would you end that? It was encouraging to see examples where effective partnerships are standing the test of time.
Inclusion is the long-term opportunity
Closing reflections reinforced the broader context - Ireland is growing, but not everyone benefits equally. Inclusive employment, educational disadvantage and strategic community investment are key areas for business action. Inclusive societies are more innovative, stable and resilient, creating stronger talent pipelines and healthier communities. In that sense, corporate–charity partnerships act as infrastructure for a fairer society.
Beyond the day
Perhaps the most important takeaway was that the event itself was not the outcome. It was a starting point, an opportunity to build relationships and grow each other’s network, share challenges openly and raise the bar of what corporate-charity partnership can look like in Ireland. As host Sonya Lennon encouraged - we’re looking to move the dial towards ‘gold standard’ collaboration - and to do that, it takes both parties in the room, setting the goal posts. (Watch this space for a best-practise framework event to follow!)
Partnerships work best when we bring our unique perspectives, expertise, and readiness to collaborate. Thank you to everyone who joined us today, to our partners in delivering the event Charities Institute Ireland and Business in the Community Ireland, to Jennifer Brennan of Thrive Marketing Ireland, to Arthur Cox LLP for so kindly hosting, the incredible Sonya Lennon for joining us as MC, and to all of our fantastic panellists for so openly sharing their thoughts, learnings and insights.