Collaboration starts long before launch. If you're at a foundation that's getting ready to design a program for others—say, a shared service hub or a capacity-building initiative—pause and consider this: Are you collaborating with the people you hope to serve? Too often, well-intentioned efforts fall into the “build it and they will come” trap. A new offering is designed, resourced, and launched—only to be met with low engagement, confusion, or unintended consequences. Not be

Collaboration starts long before launch. If you're at a foundation that's getting ready to design a program for others—say, a shared service hub or a capacity-building initiative—pause and consider this: Are you collaborating with the people you hope to serve? Too often, well-intentioned efforts fall into the “build it and they will come” trap. A new offering is designed, resourced, and launched—only to be met with low engagement, confusion, or unintended consequences. Not be

During our 1:1 call last week, a client asked how best to motivate others to invest their time and attention in an emerging collaboration. I told him that two little words usually do the trick. Before I tell you what those two little words are, let me share an analogy… People don’t buy electric drills to put holes in the wall for the heck of it; they buy drills to put holes in the wall in order to hang shelves (among other uses, of course!). Likewise, people don’t engage in c

I’ve been busy behind the scenes exploring the capacity-building programs of more than 80 community foundations—and what I’ve found is fascinating. As I analyzed these offerings, I brought multiple lenses to the table. My background as a professor, with deep experience in program and curriculum development, gives me a critical eye for how learning experiences are structured. My time as an Associate Dean for Faculty Development means I think a lot about how people grow, learn,