Partnering for impact: how Swedish environmental NGOs characterize the impact of corporate collaborations

Purpose Premised on the growing prominence of non-governmental organization (NGO)-business partnerships in the context of corporate social responsibility, the purpose of this study is to examine how environmental NGOs in Sweden characterize the impact of corporate partnerships and, relatedly, what hinders or facilitates impact. Design/methodology/approach In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with NGO managers in Sweden. Interviewees were senior managerial and decision-making executives in NGOs that had existing corporate partnerships. Findings NGOs characterize the principal impacts of collaborations in terms of awareness both of the partner and environmental issue through network formation, behavior change at the dual levels of business practice and consumer behavior, and a catalytic effect on partners to engage in co-creating “win-win” solutions. The authors refer to these as the ABC of NGO–business partnership impact. This study also highlights the multifaceted ways in which environmental NGOs understand and seek trust in collaborations. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to a nuanced and multi-layered understanding of how “impact” is characterized in NGO–business collaborations. Originality/value Despite the growing preference toward NGO–business collaborations, the impact of such efforts remains ambiguous. This study contributes to the nascent body of scholarship that views impact as a multidimensional construct that encompasses short-term, immediate and tangible goals to long-term behavioral or structural changes that may continue well beyond the duration of the partnership.