boston | geneva | mumbai | san francisco | seattle | washington fsg.org session for: collective...
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Boston | Geneva | Mumbai | San Francisco | Seattle | Washington FSG.ORG
Session for:
Collective Impact:Backbone Organizations
October 8, 2012
CMF / MNA Conference
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© 2012 FSG
FSG Overview
• Nonprofit consulting firm specializing in strategy, evaluation and research with offices in Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, DC, Geneva, and Mumbai
• Partner with foundations, corporations, nonprofits, and governments to develop more effective solutions to the world’s most challenging issues
• Recognized thought leader in social impact, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility
• Staff of 100 full-time professionals with passion and experience to solve social problems
• Advancing Collective Impact via publications, conferences, speaking engagements, client projects
FSG Overview
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FSG Is Playing a Leadership Role in Accelerating Collective Impact Approaches to Solving Large-Scale Social Problems
FSG and Collective Impact
• Client work in Collective Impact: FSG understands how to enable and sustain cross-sector partnerships through our work with clients in the following sectors:
• FSG articles paved the way for Collective Impact:‒ Leading Boldly (2004)‒ Breakthroughs in Shared Measurement (2008)‒ Catalytic Philanthropy (2009)‒ Collective Impact (2011)‒ Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work (2012)
‒ Economic development‒ Education reform‒ Environmental sustainability‒ Juvenile justice‒ Teen substance abuse ‒ Public health
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There Are Several Types of Problems
Source: Adapted from “Getting to Maybe”
Simple
Baking a Cake Sending a Rocket to the Moon
Complicated
The social sector often treats problems as simple or complicated
Complex
Raising a Child
Introduction to Collective Impact
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Traditional Approaches Are Not Solving Our Toughest—Often Complex—Challenges
• Funders select individual grantees
• Organizations work separately and compete
• Evaluation attempts to isolate a particular organization’s impact
• Large scale change is assumed to depend on scaling organizations
• Corporate and government sectors are often disconnected from foundations and nonprofits
IsolatedImpact
Introduction to Collective Impact
Source: Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work, 2012; FSG Interviews and Analysis
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Imagine a Different Approach—Multiple Players Working Together to Solve Complex Issues
• All working toward the same goal and measuring the same things
• Cross-sector alignment with government, nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate sectors as partners
• Organizations actively coordinating their action and sharing lessons learned
Isolated Impact Collective Impact
Collective Impact recognizes that no single organization is responsible for a major social problem, so no single organization can cure it
Introduction to Collective Impact
Source: Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work, 2012; FSG Interviews and Analysis
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Achieving Large-Scale Change through Collective Impact Involves Five Key Elements
Common Agenda• Common understanding of the problem • Shared vision for change
Shared Measurement
• Collecting data and measuring results• Focus on performance management• Shared accountability
Mutually Reinforcing Activities
• Differentiated approaches• Coordination through joint plan of action
Continuous Communication
• Consistent and open communication• Focus on building trust
Backbone Support
• Separate organization(s) with staff• Resources and skills to convene and coordinate
participating organizations
Source: Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work, 2012; FSG Interviews and Analysis
Five Elements of Collective Impact
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The Collective Impact Approach Can Apply to Solving Many Complex Social Issues
Education Health
Economic DevelopmentYouth Development
Homelessness
Community Development
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* Indicates FSG Client
CI across Issue Areas
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Collective Impact Is Best Structured with Cascading Levels of Collaboration, with the Backbone Playing a Critical Role
Shared Measures
Backbone
Governance,Vision and Strategy
Action Planning
Implementation
Public Will
Common Agenda
Steering Committee
Community Members
Partners
Working Groups
Implementing Collective Impact
Source: FSG Interviews and Analysis
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The Role of Backbone Organizations Is Often Described with a Metaphor…
It Is Not Always Easy to See the Value of Backbone Organizations’ Work
• “(They are) kind of like the quarterback—doesn’t end up in the end zone, but they’re the ones handing it off, making a pass or calling a different play if the defense looks different.”
• “I’m at a lot of events with people in the know who don’t understand what these backbones do. But they are doing what they are supposed to do—the work behind the scenes. They both fill a role that, if it weren’t for them, no one would be pushing certain items.”
• “They are an umbrella that can say, ‘this is an issue, let’s address it together.’”
• “They serve as the voice for early care and education and bringing issues to the tables to funders that may not otherwise be heard.”
• “(The backbone) has also formed a bridge between early childhood agencies, corporate leaders, and funders.”
Source: FSG interviews
Key Learning
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Partners
Initiative
Community
Effective Backbone Organization Leadership Is Critical to Collective Impact Success
Why we collectively are taking
action (Needs /
Assumptions and Goals)
What we are doing to address the
issue (Activities)
Early indications that our activities
will lead to change(Backbone Outcomes)
The change we collectively hope to
see if we are successful(Initiative
Outcomes)
Theory of Change
Isolated Impact
Guide Vision
Support Alignment
Shared Measurement
Build Public Will
Advance Policy
Mobilize Funding
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Backbone Organizations Come in a Variety of Types
* These skills can exist within a single organization or within another organization in the effortSource: Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work, 2012; FSG Interviews and Analysis
Types of Organizations That Could Serve as Backbones
FundersNew or Existing
Non-Profits
Government Agencies and
Other Intermediaries
Multi-Organization
Initiatives
Strong and Adaptive Leadership
Sustained Funding and Resources
Core Requirements to be a Successful Backbone Organization*
High Credibility in the Community
Dedicated Staff
Ability to Be a Neutral Convener
Private Sector
Backbone Organizations
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Backbone Organizations Are Critical to Any Collective Impact Effort—And They Perform Six Major Functions
Backbones must balance the tension between coordinating and maintaining accountability, while staying behind the scenes to establish collective ownership
Guide Vision and Strategy
Build Public Will
Support Aligned Activities
Mobilize Funding
Establish Shared Measurement Practices
Advance Policy
Backbone Organizations
• Build a common understanding of the problem • Provide strategic guidance to develop a common agenda
• Convene key external stakeholders to do mutually reinforcing activities• Facilitate communication and collaboration• Catalyze or incubate new initiatives
• Collect, analyze, interpret, and report data• Catalyze or develop shared measurement systems• Provide technical assistance for building partners’ data capacity
• Build public will, consensus, and commitment• Create a sense of urgency and articulate a call to action• Support community member engagement activities
• Advocate for an aligned policy agenda
• Mobilize and align both public and private funding to support goals
Source: FSG Interviews and Analysis
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Among Different Backbone Organizations, Organization-Specific Challenges Add Nuance
Key Learning
Phase of Collective Impact Initiative
Organizational Capacity
Scope of the Vision and Strategy and / or
Geographic Reach
Organizational Structure/ Parent Organizations
Phase IInitiate Action
Phase IIOrganize for Impact
Phase IIISustain Action &
Impact
Among the backbone organizations…
$ $ $
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Backbones Typically Require At Least Three Key Staff Positions
Project Director Data Manager Facilitator(s)
Leadership• Oversees effort• Advises Steering
Committee
• Manages accountability • Manages working groups/networks
Communication• Reports data• Shares data for use
• Connects working groups/networks
Critical Thinking• Addresses complex
issues• Addresses complex
issues• Addresses complex
issues
Planning• Leads vision, goal,
strategy setting• Plans data collection,
data sharing• Aligns partners to
implement
Embracing Change• Champions change at
senior level• Provides data to help
change occur• Champions change in
groups
Teamwork• Listens, reinforces
senior collaboration• Partners with data
providers• Helps community
partners align
Source: Adapted from Strive Network
Illustration of a Backbone Structure:
Backbone Organizations
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Every Backbone Needs Funding for its Activities; a Backbone Organization Likely Requires an Annual Budget of ~$3-400K
Expense Category Budget ($) Description
Salaries 80,000 1 FTE Executive Director
55,000 1 FTE Facilitator
65,000 1 FTE Data Manager
25,000 .5 FTE Administrative Support
Benefits 45,000 At 20% of salaries
Professional Fees 90,000 Consultants, R&E, Web
Travel and Meetings 16,000 Workshops, events, retreat
Communications 45,000 Reports, collateral, media
Technology 0 In kind hardware, software, IT
Office 3,650 In kind/paid rent, utilities, supplies
Other 1,000 Staff training, miscellaneous
Total Expenses 425,650 Covered by grants and fees
Source: Adapted from Strive Network
Illustration of a Backbone’s Budget:
Backbone Organizations
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Effective Backbone Leaders Share Common Characteristics
Source: FSG interviews
Key Learning
Stakeholders describe backbone organization leaders as:
Visionary
Results-Oriented
Collaborative, Relationship Builder
Focused, but Adaptive
Charismatic and Influential Communicator
Politic
Humble
“Someone who has a big picture perspective—[who] understands how the pieces fit together, is sensitive to the dynamics, and is
energetic and passionate.”
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In Small Groups, We Will Discuss the Collective Impact Model and the Role of the Backbone Organization
Discussion Questions
• What do you see as the benefits to the community in taking a collective impact approach?
• In your table’s topic area, what challenges exist that prevent the community from being able to make progress in this area?
• What role does the backbone organization play in advancing work in this topic area?
• What should happen next? Given your role in the sector, how do you participate?
Group Discussion
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Thank You!
To talk more with FSG about Collective Impact:
• John Kania• [email protected]
Collective Impact resources available on FSG’s website: http://fsg.org/KnowledgeExchange/FSGApproach/CollectiveImpact.aspx