CASP CEU Center

Engaging and Partnering with Stakeholders

CASP Organizational Guidelines: Chapter 10

Section: Business Operations

Format: online only

Released: January, 31 2022

Chapter Overview:

The success of an autism service provider organization relies largely on the consistent delivery of safe and effective treatment to the individuals and families that it serves. However, an organization’s long-term well-being also relies on developing and maintaining robust, mutually beneficial relationships with its other stakeholders—often a large, interconnected community that includes not only individuals and families but also funders, policy makers, public and private school systems, local businesses, medical providers, and more. Although for-profit and nonprofit organizations may have different needs or focuses, both types of organizations benefit from strong, reciprocal connections with their stakeholders.

A healthy and sustainable organization must understand and respond to the needs of its diverse stakeholder groups to build a reservoir of goodwill, influence, and resources it can draw upon in the future. These connections also create a support network that may be able to assist the organization in times of conflict or change. Therefore, organizations should prioritize allocating time, money, and effort toward strengthening these crucial partnerships.