b'INDUSTRY INTERVIEW (CONTINUED) A Case Study in Partnerships critical life lessons to at-risk young people living in MarylandBaltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is well-versed in the power ofand beyond. The programs they offer are not limited to theHow do you balance working with means variation in climate, age and typeDo you have any recommendations onpartnerships. BGE is a natural gas and electric utility servingdevelopment of sports initiatives. The Foundation also worksmultiple partners on a single initiative?of infrastructure, rural and urban areas,developing partnerships?Marylands energy needs. This 200-year-old energy company to improve nutrition, support anti-bullying initiatives, facilitate Have you noticed any regional and political and public priorities. YouTrust and credibility are critical whenhas long been dedicated to the idea of creating nonprofit college preparedness, contribute to community building,differences among AGAs partnerships?often cant have a one size fits all working with partners, or any partnerships to amplify their philanthropic influence. Not only doand more. You must establish a common missionapproach. It all comes down to listeningstakeholders. Thats how you earn thethey know how to use networks to achieve charitable initiatives,Steve Salem, president and CEO of the Cal Ripken, Sr.and, when necessary, remind all partnersand understanding motivations, respect needed to address any issue. but they also do it on a large scale.Foundation, says, We dont take the word partnership lightly. of that mission. You need to respectobjectives, and why something that mightYou are not always going to agree andIn 2018, BGE donated over five million dollars to nonprofit The Foundation worked with senior management at BGE to find and understand the perspective of thework for one partner or area may not workmay have to agree to disagree. Thatsorganizations. But they didnt stop with monetary support. the right neighborhood for the newly-completed Eddie Murray different partners. And you then need tofor others. Ultimately, you want to landokay if you know that the partners you areInspired by the exceptional community involvement of formerField in West Baltimore. listen, put yourself in the others shoeson common ground that everyone canworking with are coming to the table withCEO Calvin Butler, BGEs senior management continues to serve and not be so focused on addressing yoursupport. And sometimes it is integrity and the best of intentions. on the boards of nonprofits, provide strategic guidance, facilitateIn fact, Calvin Butler, former CEO of BGE, now CEO of Exelonconcern that you wont consider othersnecessary to capture why there may You also must listen and be open to introductions, and deploy an employee volunteer program thatUtilities, which oversees BGE and utilities in five states and DC, issues. For instance, energy companiesneed to be different approaches based entertaining alternative perspectives. contributed more than 26,000 hours of community service inhas served on the board of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation for deliver natural gas in all 50 states. Thaton regional or other characteristics. 2018 alone.many years. He plays an active and continuing role in thepartnership between BGE and the Foundation.However, even with these impressive resources, BGE knows theyWe looked at a lot of neighborhoods, Salem adds, and at every are not able to make big changes in the communities they serve without working with aligned organizations within those single one of them, Calvin and BGE looked with us. As a result communities. BGE is dedicated to finding the right nonprofitof their combined efforts and resources, BGE and the Cal Ripken, HOW DO YOU TACKLE partners to help them achieve their goals and foster the Sr. Foundation chose to build a field at Mosher Elementary most impact.School because of its ability to impact yet another community The Cascading Effect group, the James Mosher Little League.BIG CHALLENGES? With a large and well-developed giving team in place, BGESteve Salem, president and CEO of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, standing actively seeks out the most effective means to drive economicon home base of the Eddie Murray baseball field in West Baltimore, MD.development, improve public safety, and support civic issues and concerns.BGE has found they can do the most good by creating a series CREATE A of relationships that start with corporate planning and their own volunteers that then cascades with the cooperation andcontributions of nonprofits within their community. TheirCASphilanthropic efforts often spread out into networks, moving through dozens of neighborhood touchpointstouchpointsCA otherwise hard to reach on their own. DE BGE seeks to improve the quality of life in Baltimore butachieving such a far-reaching goal is challenging from where they sit amongst the community. To ensure that their efforts make a real impact, they involve businesses and nonprofits with OFPARTNERSHIPS. a variety of skills, resources, and specialties that can cascade their reach.One of the ways BGE creates networks is through theidentification of small, influential areas that will become thehubs for more substantial changes. They can offer experiencedNo matter how well-funded an organization may be, they often struggle to find ways to address complex challenges. Whether thestrategy, substantial funding, and a large pool of volunteers. organization is dedicated to things like better nutrition, safer communities, eliminating diseases, environmental issues, disaster relief,These resources can empower a variety of smalleror social change, there is no shortage of complicated challenges. Even the largest companies can feel overwhelmed when they setorganizations with similar community goals. With the helpout to reach wide-reaching philanthropic goals.of corporate support, smaller grassroots organizations and initiatives can succeedone project at a time, oneThats why many companies are tackling the big challenges by creating a network of partnerships. The resources needed, whetherneighborhood at a time. they are time, talent, or funding, can come from many places, including businesses, foundations, nonprofits, and grassroots BGEs partnership with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is anorganizations. Working together, stakeholders with varying levels of assets and resources can amplify their impact on excellent example of cascading resources. The Cal Ripken, Sr. the community. Foundation was created in 2001 by the two sons of the lateBaltimore Orioles player, coach, and manager, Cal Ripken, Sr.The Foundation is focused on building character and teaching EIGHT'