Transcendent Partnership

Mary ZumBrunnen has devoted her career to revitalizing Michigan communities through grass-roots empowerment and collaboration. Transcendent Partnership reflects the same thoughtful and insightful approach to coalition-building and problem-solving that have come to define her work. There are valuable lessons available here for anyone who seeks to better understand and effectively navigate state and local power bases as a means to facilitating greater inter-governmental, cross-sector partnerships for collective action.

Transcendent Partnership provides insightful framework for community leaders seeking to strengthen partnerships across all sectors through improved problem-solving strategies, communication techniques and best practices for successful development.

Using an innovative service model, Ms. ZumBrunnen provides readers with an in-depth look at bottlenecks that impede nonprofit and government program/service delivery and offers methods of collaboration to achieve mutually desired outcomes. Interlaced with Buddhist principles, philosophical realizations and a mindset that positive change – though difficult – can be implemented if leadership can get all parties aligned on the same wavelength, the book challenges common assumptions about how community organizations can get things done and presents new options on how to maximize the synergy of multiple stakeholders.

As a senior nonprofit staff member operating in “partnership space” on a daily basis, I saw many of my own struggles in the cases provided in this book. By examining my own partnerships through the lenses provided by the author, I am determined to return to work next week with some new tools that will help me move our partnerships that are “stuck” in various stages of development forward. Perhaps the most important sections to me were those that focused on personal branding and the role that leaders play in driving difficult conversations forward. Overall, this is a solid guide for taking partnerships to the next level.

I wish this book was around when I started a nonprofit community development corporation in Pontiac, Michigan, while it was in state receivership. It offers a tremendous amount of insight that makes me reflect upon our own journey to start up an organization, build community consensus and maintain relationships long enough to accomplish lasting results.

Transcendent Partnership is an expert’s braiding of two successful approaches to bring positive change: elbow-deep community engagement and the science of supply chain management. Mary ZumBrunnen uses her first-hand experiences of wading through embedded obstacles in the blight-torn city of Flint, Michigan to steer the reader into more efficient and effective strategies for success. This book is a valued read for anyone engaging in community projects — from the smallest to the largest. The processes laid out in Transcendent Partnership is a primer that is applicable far beyond community projects, as well.

In “Transcendent Partnership,” Mary ZumBrunnen merges the worlds of nonprofit and business. Her book could be considered “business school for the nonprofit leader.” Ms. ZumBrunnen uses supply chain management strategy to present her 5 steps to overcome obstacles in partnership creation. This book methodically takes the reader through the transformation necessary to move community partnerships to the next level.

The positive: – Recognizes the power dynamics that apply to collaboratives and partnerships, which are frequently unspoken and yet tremendously powerful – Well-organized into foundational tools and more advanced techniques – Based in real-world experience in Michigan, an exceptionally rich and challenging place for community development work The negative: – Relative lack of detail to stories or case studies – though probably necessary to protect the privacy of the people involved – A bit difficult to skim – you’ll need to spend some time with this one to get deep into its value, but that time will be well spent

As evidenced in Mary’s book, social challenges are embedded generationally and, therefore, social change truly takes a village. As a higher education professional and professor emeritus, I found this book to have extraordinary value and I give this book a great deal of credit. Cross sector collaboration can be difficult in any environment. As a nonprofit and government consultant, Ms. ZumBrunnen’s books offers innovative tips applying business management to lead diverse teams for collective impact. ~Jo Codde, PhD – Professor Emeritus

This book offers a unique and much-need approach to help organizations and community leaders improve their region. Whether you are new to the field, or a seasoned nonprofit veteran, author Mary ZumBrunnen, provides a roadmap that practitioners and policymakers can use, complete with a toolbox based in supply-chain management theory to help community partners diagram and chart the flow of resources and community capital to improve enhance the collective impact of all community partners. Transcendent Partnerships can help maximize your work and improve the world and community you call home.

Excellent writing style and topic presentation flow. Author tells an intuitive story of a journey down a trail of reward and disappointment that can be challenging, yet rewarding and beneficial especially for rural communities. Very impressive. Thoughtful, innovative and versatile concepts and strategies for our tool boxes. The book is well constructed in flow and reflected conceptual integrity.

In this book, Mary ZumBrunnen expertly presents a unique, creative blending of the seemingly separate disciplines of non-profit leadership and supply chain management. Her expertise in both worlds places her in a class all her own. This book is clear, concise, and a must-read for effective leadership. Wish I had it a long time ago!

This book touches on so many things I wish I knew as a young nonprofit director. The personal stories are helpful and educational. I highly recommend it.

I’ve had the pleasure working with Mary on a couple projects and was excited to get a copy of this book. I enjoyed the personal stories that were shared about projects and the struggle to work with different organizations and the factors that cause people to do what they do within an organization or on a project. My organization regularly works with municipalities to provide IT and marketing services. After reading this book I have a better understanding of what happens within the world of my clients and how my organization can work more effectively work with them on projects in the future.

This book and subject was a remarkable find. For those that find themselves in a role having to manage stakeholders, whether individuals or groups, this is a must read. I work with a number of organizations that need community alignment to ensure the success of projects, improvement plans, resource allocation, and funding. Transcendent Partnership addresses those opportunities and challenges that we face. Just getting work done or moving forward is a hurdle, and Mary’s insights gives understanding and the steps that walks one through difficult conversations and maps the consequences. Every situation is unique, and the framework in this resource gives a new perspective to untying hands in the development process. Well done and thank you!

As a senior nonprofit staff member operating in “partnership space” on a daily basis, I saw many of my own struggles in the cases provided in this book. By examining my own partnerships through the lenses provided by the author, I am determined to return to work next week with some new tools that will help me move our partnerships that are “stuck” in various stages of development forward. Perhaps the most important sections to me were those that focused on personal branding and the role that leaders play in driving difficult conversations forward. Overall, this is a solid guide for taking partnerships to the next level.

In Transcendent Partnership, Ms. ZumBrunnen talks about those issues we never want to discuss at the conference room table in community partnership – ourselves! No matter the good intention, sometimes our organizational and personal baggage gets in the way. What I really appreciate about this book is that it offers a simple way to move through so we don’t burn bridges but instead actually move the needle forward. I also learned from Mary’s personal stories here around Michigan – WOW.

As former Public Information Officer at one of the distressed city examples discussed by Ms. ZumBrunnen in Transcendent Partnership, I agree with her view points. Coordinating large scale development events for collective impact is a challenge unique to every situation. One size does not fit all and these lessons from supply chain management help streamline otherwise very dicey and sometimes personal situations.

As a former VISTA member for National Service, this book really helps me think through how to lead community partnership that require large scale cross sector collaboration. Mary’s business expertise is a bonus. She explains supply chain strategy well for those unfamiliar using line manufacturing examples.

As a non-profit employee, it can be a challenge to manage various groups with diverse needs and objectives. This book showed me how I can more effectively troubleshoot competing wants and needs among stakeholder groups and provide better access to needed resources.

This book is optimal for those looking for how to delve deeper into organizational development and how to strengthen their leadership skills. ZumBrunnen’s experience in multiple fields, demographics and arenas shines through as she guides the reader through steps, visuals and how-tos for the leader. I anticipate seeing many more from Mary, her talent is palpable and the book is a great success.

This is a book that brings out the leader in you. It is empowering and calls all of us up to be the change. Mary with show you the steps to creating the type of partnership that can really change the world. She gives actual strategies so leaders from different sectors can collaborate and work well together. It’s awesome!

Transcendent Partnership provided me a different way of looking at personal, project, and community level partnership development to help make a collective impact. Working in supply chain and serving on community organization committees, the content tied the two together in easy to understand format. It also provided key insights to help my current organization work together with other community partners.

This book bridges the gaps between the non-profit space and for profit partners. It shows what is possible and then how to structure it to ensure your project will be a success. It also teaches you about the reality of a project that may just not go and how to deal with that. This is an instrumental read for anyone in the non profit sector.

It is a must read for anyone who is interested in community reach programs. Transcendent Partnership offers a way to tell your “story” in a creative way that demonstrates the extent to which all the moving pieces of your project or system is functioning to navigate with the flow or upstream in development across a community. Funders will appreciate this as well other leaders.

As a nonprofit and faith-based organization professional, I was skeptical about the idea of applying business strategy. That always sounds so good and then the heart of the mission is lost. Mary’s tools in Transcendent Partnership were actually helpful and we are going to implement the flow mapping sequences she suggests during our next grant round.

This book is a must read for anyone who is committed to the nonprofit world. For those of us who have struggled under the workload and have been singed by burnout, this book can give you the tools you need to build partnerships and make a collective impact.

I’m an engineer by trade and volunteer for my Detroit community when I’m able. Having done MBA studies, I think Mary does a good job using nonprofit examples and then applying super practical supply chain processes for problem solving. This was a well done book that any reader can pick up and get in and out of quickly.

I struggle with leading nonprofit partnership from my environmental organization between partners. We rely on federal funding and this book helped me think about telling my story better. I’ve used the flow mapping tool to actually articulate to my funders and donors how we work!

After reading this I feel more confident leading volunteer work with my church even though I work for a car company. I did not necessarily feel confident in the past doing outreach in my hometown of Leslie, MI. I’ve tried two of the practices Mary suggests and they WORK.

As a nonprofit professional who did not go to business school, I appreciated this book. Mary’s case studies, while sometimes vague, are rooted in real experience and are so helpful. I would recommend this to friends, especially those in Michigan.

As a business professional, and community volunteer, this book makes a lot of sense. Nonprofits leading community action can absolutely take note from business practices applying them for greater service delivery efficiency. Good Read!

If you’re looking to jump start the success rate of your community group, you’ve found the perfect blueprint. Ms. ZumBrunnen hits the nail squarely on the head.

Working through a charity in the past, I’ve definitely gotten stuck in the “politics” or relationships. I’m so glad someone finally got honest and spelled out a way to solve this. A must read!

As a Quality Assurance Manager at Michigan Works!, I regularly have to develop partnerships in our community. This book is a good read for those required to lead multi-sector groups forward toward success.

This book helps you lead regional change projects where there is otherwise no accountability between community partners from government to neighborhood organizations and support groups

Mary has a breadth of knowledge in bringing parties together for a common cause. The book clearly outlines usable techniques to create impactful change.

This books offers the tools to view leadership in yourself and others such that partners become productive mirrors for our own growth opportunities.

This book taught me a different way of negotiating conflict resolution between not only community partners, but their organizations.

Excellent book.

Superb!!