If you’re looking for a prime example of a successful partnership between a nonprofit organization and a research institution, look no further than Michigan State University (MSU) and MEO. Located just across the street from MSU’s East Lansing office, MEO has had a long-standing relationship with the university, one that has proven to be mutually beneficial over the years.
One of the primary ways that MSU has helped MEO is through providing a talent pipeline of skilled graduates and interns. With limited resources, MEO has been able to employ a number of talented MSU graduates and interns who have brought their knowledge and skills to the nonprofit’s mission of creating regional sustainability. Through this partnership, MSU has also served as a critical resource, offering guidance and support to MEO as they work towards their goals.
Recently, MEO has been benefiting from a team of MSU Executive MBAs, who have selected the nonprofit as the focus of their “social impact” project for the next few years. The goal of the project is to examine ways in which a nonprofit can harness best business practices to be more effective at creating social good. The project has already resulted in a number of successful collaborations between MEO and MSU, and is expected to lead to even greater successes in the future.
Overall, the partnership between MSU and MEO is a prime example of how research institutions and nonprofit organizations can work together to create positive change. By leveraging shared resources and expertise, we are able to achieve much more than we could individually. As we look towards the future, we hope that other organizations will learn from our successful partnership and build strong, mutually beneficial relationships that benefit all involved.
