Strategies for Seeking Successful Funder/Nonprofit Collaboration

Christine ReevesApril 30, 2013

Examples from Across the Country

Icebreaker

What Does NCRP Do?

• Serves the public good

• Is responsive to communities with the least wealth, power & opportunity

• Is held accountable to the highest standards of integrity & openness

My Story

Given the National Data Platform:

What can literacy funders learn from other collaborations?

Question

1. Quantitative return-on-investment to leverage limited dollars

2. Qualitative storytelling to enhance impact

3. Respond to set-backs adapt nimbly without giving up on success

4. Promote leadership & accountability work collaboratively on a goal to connect multiple

issue silos, grantees, grantmakers & communities 

Goals

1. Context

2. Collaboration Strategies (TOP 10)

3. Collaboration Research Tools

4. Discussion

Outline

1. ContextWhy we must leverage resources to solve problems

$3 Billion ?

$45 Billion ?

$58 Billion ?

Any ideas?

$3 Billion Gates Foundation’s Annual Giving

$45 Billion Philanthropic Sector’s Annual Giving

$58 Billion CA’s Annual Education Budget

Limited $ BIG PROBLEMS

2. Collaboration Strategies

No Silver Bullet, No Panacea

Collaboration Breaks Down Silos

Silo #1: Measurement Results

Silo #2: Bigger Scale Uselfulness

Well-Intentioned Duplication vs

Nuanced Emulation?

Enlargevs

Improve?

Silo #3: Diversity Inclusion

Diversity

InclusionTokenism

Silo #4: Network Collaboration

Network vs. Collaboration

Mentor vs. Champion

Silo #5: Sector Cross-Sector

1. Measure vs. Results—is philanthropy the new math?

2. Scale vs. Usefulness—is bigger always better?

3. Diversity vs. Inclusion—culture changing?

4. Network vs. Collaboration—internal/external?

5. Sector vs. Cross-Sector—gov’t, biz, & press?

½ Way

Silo #6: Become Include Experts

Silo #7: 5% 100%

Silo #8: Avoid Address Power Dynamics

Multi-Year Support

General Operating Support

16%

25%

What If…

1.8 MillionNonprofits

74,000Foundations

74,000Nonprofits

1.8 MillionFoundations

Offenders & Ex-Offenders

People with HIV/AIDS

Single Parents

Racial & Ethnic Minorities

Economically Disadvantaged

Immigrants & Refugees

LGBTQ

Women & Girls

Elderly

Disabled People

Crime & Abuse Victims

Silo # 9: Untargeted Universalism

Silo #10: Avoid Use Advocacy

Strategic

Inclusive &

Democratic

Addresses Root Causes of

Problems

High Impact

Social Justice &

Human Rights

Equal

Taboo Untraditional

Hard to Measure

SocialistUnpleasant Messy

ImpoliteRude

Political

?

Civic Engagement Community

Organizing

Advocacy/Policy

Self-Help/Education

DirectService

Charity to Social Change

145+ Grantmakers

Philanthropy’s Promise

6. Become vs. Include Experts– match/regrant/scout?

7. 5% v. 100%–mission-related investments?

8. Avoid v. Address Power–multi-yr & gen op support?

9. Un v. Targeted Universalism–most affected?

10. Avoid v. Use Advocacy–many forms to leverage $?

Second ½

3. Research Tools for Collaboration

Grantmaking for Community Impact

Summary: Leveraging Limited Dollars

Findings

• Nonprofits 110

• Funders 327

• Funding input $231 million

• Benefits output $26.6 billion

• R.O.I. $115 to $1

Examples

Civic Engagement Town Hall

528,880 PeopleCommunicated with Policymakers

for 1st Time

R.O.I.> $1.5 Billion Saved

Advocacy/Policy:Grantee Champions Interests of

Marginalized Community

Environmentalist Immigrant

Laborer Community Organizer$2.2 Billion

In Benefits

Community OrganizingGrantee Helps Marginalized Communities

Represent Themselves

145+ Grantmakers

Philanthropy’s Promise

4. Collaboration Discussion Who’s doing it? And who isn’t?

Strategies for Seeking Successful Funder/Nonprofit Collaboration

Christine ReevesApril 30, 2013

Examples from Across the Country