When Our Networks Need Networks: Designing A New Infrastructure for Collaboration and Collective Impact in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Abstract

Our networks need networks. Strategic partnerships for social good demand a new kind of infrastructure to maximize and sustain their collective impact on systems, communities and people. Too often, nonprofits and their philanthropic, government and community partners expend too much time and energy organizing themselves and too little time translating shared purpose into meaningful action.

Take a moment to list all of the strategic alliances that your organization participates in as a member, funder or ally. Are they really making a difference? Do they engage policymakers and the public? Do they effectively use social media for advocacy and networking? Are they financially viable in the long run? Do they rely too heavily on the leadership of one or two visionary and tireless volunteers or staff members? Do they have their finger on the pulse of changing community needs and promising practices in the field? Do you find yourself slowly succumbing to “death by meeting” in order to stay involved with all of them?

Now imagine that the myriad nonprofit collaboratives, coalitions, alliances and membership organizations in your region were coordinated and managed by one professional, highly visible, trustworthy and robust entity. Visualize an entity with the strength of leadership, brand, expertise and technology to help partnerships effectively and efficiently recruit and mobilize members, organize meetings, establish an online presence, engage civic officials, business leaders and community members, administer public-private investments with transparency and accountability and harness their combined talents, numbers and assets to create positive change. If such an entity existed, beholden to no one funder, member or cause, these partnerships could throw the vast majority of their efforts into fostering collaboration (through networking, training and information sharing) and achieving collective impact (through advocacy, research, programming, service coordination, quality improvement and community engagement).