The brain trust of the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation is its Partnership Enterprise. This auspicious group of industry companies and organizations is the "eyes and ears" of the industry, its "early warning radar." Through direct meetings and on-going business relationships, the Partnership Enterprise advises the Foundation about new and emerging issues that will either challenge or benefit the industry, or both. For example, the Partnership Enterprise provided the impetus for MCERF to fund a study on the future of the mechanical contracting industry, leading to the development and publication of The Five Key Trends for the Future of the Mechanical Contracting Industry. From this study came a myriad of other research issues and products, such as Spanish-language Safety products, a Value Chain guidance document, and a study on Green Buildings to be released in late 2006.

The Partnership Enterprise consists of companies, MCAA local affiliated associations, manufacturer/suppliers, and other organizations who have given $100,000 or more to MCERF. (For the levels of giving see MCERF's Annual Report.)