(A much abbreviated version of this post was on twitter @adamwerbach)

I’m moved by partnerships between non-profit organizations and corporations where value goes both ways. That certainly seems like the case with HSBC’s partnership with Earthwatch. 2,000 lucky HSBC employees will get the chance to go on two-week research expeditions with Earthwatch. And over 100,000 employees will have the chance to participate in projects that will help educate the public about climate change. HSBC will get employees who are more tightly connected to the radical changes going on in the external environment, which are good training grounds for the type of changes going on in the financial services industry.

What type of partnership can you form with an NGO? Some ideas:

• Collaborate on a project that does more than make you feel good — it should connect to a corporate need. In the case of HSBC, this meant building the capacity of their employees to deal with changing environments.
• Set a measurable goal for your collaboration to start. Produce a conference, create a garden, launch a website. Prove that you can work together on something small before you get married.
• Evaluate. Spend the time evaluating how the partnership is working. Come up with three learnings that you both agree on.

In the book Stategy for Sustainability, I describe the three qualities of Transparency, Engagement and Networking as the defininig features of a sustainable enterprise. Partnering with NGOs can be an important proving grounds for the skills your team will need to succeed in this turbulent world.

Read More about HSBC: http://www.hsbccommittochange.com/environment/climate-partnership/earthwatch/index.aspx