Scaling with government has been in focus a lot recently.

While we’re developing our new research on Scaling with Government—a deeper dive into how organisations can develop, deepen, and sustain relationships with government partners—we wanted to share one practical insight you can start using right now.

There are many ways to create impact with government. We’ve grouped them into a few common pathways, but before any of these, there’s a crucial step that helps you build early traction.

We call it: Clear the path.

What does ‘Clear the path’ mean?

It’s when a nonprofit receives authorisation from government to implement its solution, while funding and resourcing the work independently.

And it can be a powerful foundation for credibility and collaboration.

Why it matters

Some organisations won’t need to go beyond this level of engagement. For others, it’s a valuable stepping stone to build trust and pave the way for deeper partnership with government.

Here’s what to consider if your government engagement stops at this stage

Strengths:

• Control: You retain full control over implementation and quality.
• Innovation: Operating independently allows agility and quick iteration.

Risks:

• Sustainability: Scaling long-term without external funding can be difficult.
• Limited reach: Without government or external investment, reach may stay small.

Success factors:

• Funding: A sustainable funding strategy that supports independent delivery.
• Government relationships: Ongoing trust and communication with key officials.
• Compliance: Alignment with relevant regulations and policies.
• Impact measurement: Strong evidence of results to secure buy-in from funders and government.