Strategy and Tools to Drive Financial Capital into Community Changemakers

Authors

  • Nicholas Torres Unniversity of Pennsylvania
  • Karen Coleman

Keywords:

Trust-Based Philanthropy, Participatory Grantmaking, Community Changemakers, Donor-Advised Funds, Equitable Capital Access, Grassroots Innovation, Philanthropic Infrastructure

Abstract

This article examines the creation and early implementation of the Tabor Services Foundation and Collaborative Fundas a place-based philanthropic infrastructure designed to close persistent capital access gaps for grassroots community changemakers in Greater Philadelphia. While community-rooted organizations are central drivers of social innovation and equity, they often struggle to access sustained, flexible funding due to structural barriers within traditional philanthropic systems. The Collaborative Fund responds by pairing trust-based philanthropy, participatory grantmaking, and donor-advised fund (DAF) infrastructure to create a durable, low-friction pathway that aligns philanthropic capital with community-defined priorities. Grounded in equity, inclusion, and community participation, the model blends community-driven sourcing with donor-friendly mechanisms that reduce administrative burden while maintaining accountability and transparency. The article details the Fund’s structure, donor participation models, and participatory selection process, illustrating how community endorsement functions as a missing signal in conventional grantmaking. It further outlines a practical “strategy stack” for replication, emphasizing multi-year unrestricted funding, portfolio-based diligence, co-investment partnerships, and right-sized reporting. The article concludes that strengthening philanthropic infrastructure—rather than merely increasing grant dollars—is essential to scaling grassroots innovation and building resilient, community-led ecosystems capable of sustaining long-term social change.

Author Biographies

Nicholas Torres, Unniversity of Pennsylvania

Nicholas Torres is a senior executive and systems-change strategist with more than 25 years of experience in business, healthcare, and human services leadership. He has served in CEO and C-suite consulting roles across start-up, small, and large social-sector organizations, working at the intersection of the private sector, government, and nonprofit systems to align stakeholders around shared strategies and measurable impact. Throughout his career, Torres has designed, founded, and led multiple for-profit, nonprofit, and cross-sector social ventures focused on social impact, financial sustainability, and systemic reform.

Torres currently serves as Senior Vice President of Education and Philanthropy at Woods System of Care, President of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH)—a non-state actor in official relations with the World Health Organization—and Chief Executive Officer of Social Innovations Partners, which publishes the Social Innovations Journal and leads regional Social Innovations Awards to drive capital toward community changemakers. He also leads international and domestic initiatives advancing social accountability in medical and public health education and strengthening place-based social innovation ecosystems, and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government, Schools of Social Policy and Practice, and Nursing.

Nicholas works at the cross section between the private sector, government, and not-for-profits and aligns them toward collective social impact goals and public policy. He has led and founded multiple for-profit and not-for-profit social ventures that are driven both by social impact and financial sustainability measures. Some of his launched social ventures include charter schools, an early literacy technology platform; school-based health centers; and community-based satellite college sites.

Karen Coleman

Karen Coleman is a seasoned nonprofit leader and equity-focused strategist serving as Executive Director of the Tabor Services Foundation, where she advances community-centered philanthropic investment and systemic change. With deep expertise in launching innovative programs and fostering cross-sector collaboration, Coleman has dedicated her career to expanding opportunities for underserved communities. She is known for her ability to bridge grassroots leadership, philanthropic capital, and institutional partnerships to drive equitable social impact.

Prior to her current role, Coleman held senior leadership positions in community development and nonprofit management, where she championed strategies that strengthened organizational capacity, amplified community voice, and promoted inclusive economic growth. Her work reflects a commitment to equity, social justice, and the power of relationships in transforming systems and improving lives.

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Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Torres, N., & Coleman, K. (2026). Strategy and Tools to Drive Financial Capital into Community Changemakers. Social Innovations Journal, 35(1). Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/11715

Issue

Vol. 35 (2026): Strategy and Tools to Drive Financial Capital Into Communities and Their Changemakers

Section

Collective Impact and System Transformation

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Nicholas Torres, Karen Coleman (Author)

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