Feeding America, the national network of food banks, has joined with MoveOn, the progressive political advocacy organization to seek donations.

The organization sent an e-mail appeal on Feeding America’s behalf to its five million members on December 30, hoping to capitalize on the end-of-year giving spirit.

“A record 49 million Americans are going hungry because of the economy,” the solicitation read. “Our country needs change that gets to the root of the problem, but we also need to help people survive….For every $1 you donate, Feeding America can help provide 7 meals.”

In response to the message, donors contributed $237,000 online—most of it within 24 hours after the message was sent, said Paula Thorton Greear, a media relations officer at Feeding America.

Even more important than the money raised, she said, is the chance for the charity to reach the millions of people who are MoveOn members. “The awareness will live far beyond” the solicitation, she said. Feeding America, she added, will contact the new MoveOn donors again, using e-mail addresses they provided, in an effort to persuade them to become long-term supporters.

Such collaborative fund-raising efforts could become even more common in the year ahead, as charities seek new ways to find donors.

New research findings on corporate America suggest that such partnerships are one of the seven essential characteristics of fast-growing companies. The researcher David G. Thomson examined hundreds of companies to determine what made the difference between expansion and stagnation.

Has your charity benefit from collaboration? Do you have suggestions for how to ensure both parties benefit?