Lessons Learned from Funder Collaboratives
"Collaboration is unnatural act performed by non consenting adults."
Collaboration is a challenging undertaking and nonprofits and funders alike are generally reluctant to engage in such "unnatural acts" with out compelling incentives. However, the lessons learned from those organizations which do choose to collaborate suggest that the myriad of benefits of working together far outweigh the costs. Arizona funders are increasingly engaged in collaborative activities. Our January program will highlight the lessons learned from two local funder collaboratives:
The Summer Youth Program Fund (SYPF), launched in late 2005, is an ongoing collaborative grantmaking effort among 13 local funders who support, or are interested in supporting, agencies that provide summer programming for Maricopa County youth. The funders in 2009 contributed a total of $500,000 which they then distributed more than 25 youth-serving nonprofits.
The Emergency Funders Collaborative launched at the end of 2008 was a direct response to the global economic meltdown that hit Arizona especially hard. Ten organizations pooled their resources to raise a total of $1.6 million which they distributed to 45 human service agencies in late May, 2009.
Our Panel Members
Ed. Portnoy, Chair, Emergency Funders Collaborative
Bob Berger, Chair, Summer Youth Collaborative
Michelle Gayles, VSUW
Regina Bidstrup, Bidstrup Family Foundation
Mary Thomson, BHHS Legacy Foundation
Brian Spicker, VSUW, Moderator
Thanks to Helios Education Foundation for sponsoring this session.
Please Note: The audio at the beginning of the video is low due to microphone placement.