Building a strong, authentic relationship with each nonprofit client makes the process more meaningful, smooth and fun for all involved.

But like any agency, we’ve had clients where we simply didn’t vibe. Looking back, there were signs during initial discussions that we may not be the right fit (for example, we have differences in values and expectations, or the nonprofit is looking for a more of a vendor than a partner).

We respect every nonprofit immensely and want to make sure we’re the best fit for them (and they’re the best fit for us). With that goal in mind, we created the Respect Accord.

The Respect Accord is a document detailing what clients can expect from Great Believer over the course of the project, and in return, what Great Believer can expect from our clients. We introduce the Respect Accord in our proposals and require all new clients to sign it in tandem with our project contract.

The details of the Respect Accord came to light across a series of internal meetings where we asked ourselves two important questions:

• Why were some projects so smooth?
• Why were some projects such a struggle?

The Respect Accord covers essential topics, like the importance of kindness, creative collaboration and direct communication. Plus, we welcome every nonprofit signing the Respect Accord to suggest additional details – and the kind of feedback we’ve received has made this agreement even more mutually beneficial.

Josh, Great Believer’s founder and president, joined Big Duck’s Smart Communications Podcast to talk about the Respect Accord and other ways to build strong relationships between consultants and nonprofits.

To be clear, we don’t believe we’re the right fit for every nonprofit out there. We have a very transparent, collaborative approach that’s been shaped and refined over the years – but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The Respect Accord helps potential clients imagine how it would look to work with us and decide if they’re on board.

We welcome you to read through a sample Respect Accord.