The Secret to Free Nonprofit Support: Partnering with Universities

In this episode of the Million Dollar Nonprofit Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Elizabeth Searing, a nonprofit management professor, and Salman Bin Habib, a second-year PhD student, to explore a game-changing opportunity for nonprofits—collaborating with universities to strengthen impact, build capacity, and access valuable resources for free or at a low cost.

We break down:

- Common misconceptions about working with universities (and why most nonprofits aren’t leveraging them).

- How to tap into internships, fellowships, research projects, and strategic support that can elevate your nonprofit.

- Real-world examples of nonprofits benefiting from university partnerships, including projects with Charity Navigator.

- Practical strategies to find the right university programs aligned with your mission—whether you’re a small nonprofit or scaling up.

- The perfect stage for nonprofits to approach universities and maximize the partnership.

You’ll leave with actionable steps to start leveraging academic partnerships today!

Connect with Elizabeth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethsearing/

Connect with Tom - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomkelly5/