As we reflect on 2016, we want to share four key areas that stood out for the Collective Impact Forum community. Read below to see the Forum’s most-read resources for the year.
1) Collective Impact Principles of Practice
The field is familiar with the five conditions of collective impact, but what are the other necessary components needed for an initiative to reach its goal? Informed by lessons shared among practitioners who are implementing collective impact in the field, we outline the Collective Impact Principles of Practice, a resource that can guide practitioners on how to successfully put collective impact into action. Read now
2) Lessons Learned from Backbone Leaders
David Phillips of FSG sums up the findings and takeaways from this series of backbone leader interviews, surfacing nuggets from a treasure trove of nuanced advice, stories of success, and, yes, stories of failure. Read his full analysis of their recommendations as well as what common traits he found embedded across the initiatives. Read now
3) The Evolution of Collective Impact
In this blog series, Tynesia Boyea-Robinson (Living Cities), John Kania and Mark Kramer (FSG), and Tom Wolff (Tom Wolff and Associates) discuss how the practice around collective impact has evolved over the last five years and what pain points still need to be addressed for collective impact efforts to successfully reach their goals.
Ten Places Where Collective Impact Gets It Wrong by Tom Wolff (Tom Wolff and Associates)
Advancing the Practice of Collective Impact by John Kania and Mark Kramer (FSG)
Getting Back to the Purpose of Collective Impact by Tynesia Boyea-Robinson (Living Cities)
4) Advancing Equity in Collective Impact
This year, the Forum continued its focus on how to keep equity at the forefront of collective impact work. Resources included:
Equity as the Soul of Collective Impact – Video with William Bell (Casey Family Programs), John Kania (FSG), Michael McAfee (PolicyLink), Luz Vega-Marquis (Marguerite Casey Foundation), and Rev. Starsky Wilson (Deaconess Foundation).
Confronting Power Dynamics and Engaging the Community’s Voice in Collective Impact – Video with Sili Savusa (White Center Community Development Association), Paul Schmitz (Collective Impact Forum), LaShawndra Vernon (Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families Collaborative), and Akilah Watkins-Butler (Center for the Study of Social Policy)
Is Collective Impact Incompatible with Equity? – Blog by Romilda Justilien (FSG)
Moving Equity from Theory to Practice – Webinar with lessons learned from The Colorado Trust, Consumer Health Foundation, and Interact for Health
No Switzerland: Why “Neutrality” May Not Be the Right Way to Describe Backbone Leaders – Blog by Chris Carlson (FSG)
Envisioning and Establishing a Just Community in the Wake of Ferguson – Podcast with Rev. Starsky Wilson (Deaconess Foundation) and Karen Toering (Social Justice Fund Northwest)
How Can Evaluators Be Effective Allies to LGBTQ+ Communities? – Blog by Efrain Gutierrez (FSG)
Community Engagement Matters (Now More Than Ever) – Video with Melody Barnes (Aspen Forum for Community Solutions), Maia Jachimowicz (Results for America). Michele Jolin (Results for America), John Kania (FSG), Michael McAfee (PolicyLink). Patrick McCarthy (Annie E. Casey Foundation), and Paul Schmitz (Collective Impact Forum)
2016 Most Downloaded Resources
Collective Impact Principles of Practice
Collective Impact Feasibility Framework
Guide to Evaluating Collective Impact
Thank You for being part of the Forum Community
As we close out 2016, we want to offer our gratitude to you. The Collective Impact Forum is a global community (18,000 strong and counting), and we want to recognize that the very heart of social change are those who are pushing the work forward—with determination, faith, humor, curiosity, resilience, solidarity, hope, and love. Thank you for all that you do.
We look forward to working with you in 2017.
The Collective Impact Forum Team
What resources would you recommend from this year? Share your favorites in the comments below.
