How Grantmakers Support Collaborative Capacity

Philanthropists often dream of fostering greater collaboration among the organizations they support. Why? Because they know collaboration can be a force multiplier for creating durable change on the big issues they care about.

But there’s a problem—just because we may want people to collaborate doesn’t mean they’ll be well-equipped or motivated to do so.

The truth is, effective collaboration requires capacity: leaders need the skills, organizations need the structures, and networks need the trust to make collaboration work. Without these elements, even the most well-intentioned efforts fall short.

This is where grantmakers have an incredible opportunity:

Beyond funding programs or initiatives, they can leverage their dollars and convening power to build collaboration capacity at the individual, organizational, and network levels.

Here’s a practical approach to doing so:

• Step 1. Use discovery interviews and surveys to learn from grantees where they could use support or professional development.

  
  

• Step 2. Deliver professional development tailored to the needs and interests of grantees, either as stand-alone webinars or a webinar series.

  
  

• Step 3. Support grantees in translating ideas into practice through stand-alone workshops or a workshop series.

  
  

• Step 4. Nurture grantees’ efforts to form and advance joint ventures and collaborations with venture-level advising and facilitation.

By investing in collaboration capacity, grantmakers don’t just help grantees work better together—they also amplify collective impact on the issues that matter most. Now that’s a legacy worth investing in.

(Need a hand with any of these steps? Let’s talk.)