Get started with a self-assessment to see if your team is ready or review our curated list of foundational resources below. Want to learn more? Take a look at our full resource library.
Getting Started
Review the core concepts of the collective impact approach to collaboration.
The original 2011 Stanford Social Innovation Review article, written by John Kania and Mark Kramer, explores how large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination.
A decade of applying the collective impact approach to address social problems has taught us that equity is central to the work. This Stanford Social Innovation Review article presents an updated definition of collective impact and a set of key equity strategies to support initiatives doing collective impact work.
This podcast discussion dives into the foundations of the collective impact approach for achieving long-term social change.
This series features articles and podcasts with collective impact leaders from across the field. Pieces explore how the collective impact movement has evolved over the last decade and where the movement can grow from here.
This framework offers a guide to help your group of stakeholders assess whether or not collective impact is the right approach to address a specific social problem in your community.
Advancing Equity
Access resources on centering equity in all aspects of a collective impact initiative.
The Racial Equity Toolkit is designed to support backbone staff and partners to operationalize racial equity throughout their collective impact work.
How can the collective impact approach put anti-racism at the center of its work? In this podcast interview, FSG’s Miya Cain explores this question and more with the Executive Director of Expecting Justice, Dr. Zea Malawa.
In this 2015 keynote address, Angela Glover Blackwell (PolicyLink) gives a powerful talk about how equity is the foundation of all collective impact work.
Backbone Role and Governance
Learn about the roles and skills of the backbone and approaches to collaborative governance.
The Backbone Starter Guide is a resource for those thinking about how to start a backbone, or for established backbone teams who are bringing in new members and partners.
This toolkit includes a number of tools for establishing the infrastructure of a collective impact backbone.
What does it mean to play the backbone role for a collective impact initiative? This podcast episode focuses on the various ways the backbone works.
This toolkit includes a number of tools for the formation of a Steering Committee, including a guide for identifying steering committee members, and descriptions of steering committee member responsibilities.
Working Group Co-chairs are not simply symbolic leaders; the success of a collective impact initiative hinges on Co-chairs bringing their commitment and leadership to a range of tasks. This kit provides detailed tools, templates, and tips for leading working groups.
Community Engagement
Explore tools and resources to strengthen community engagement and partnership.
The Community Engagement Toolkit shares a series of tools for planning community engagement to be more purposeful, equitable, transparent, and strategic so that community members are true partners for achieving impact.
How can collective impact initiatives leverage advocacy and community organizing to create more equitable systems and policy outcomes? This research study provides some key recommendations and learning questions to consider.
Hosted by our colleagues at the Tamarack Institute, and informed by the 10 Lived/Living Experience Advisory Committee, this guide was written to support poverty-reduction groups to meaningfully engage people with lived/living experience. It celebrates the potential that can be unlocked when these individuals are included and empowered to drive antipoverty work, and shares lessons that are relevant for initiatives working on other issues as well.
Data, Evaluation, and Learning
Find materials on how to identify shared measures and use data to continuously learn, adapt, and improve the work of your collaborative.
This three-part guide offers detailed advice on how to plan for and implement effective performance measurement and evaluation activities in the context of collective impact.
From quick 20-minute activities to multi-hour gatherings, this guide provides detailed instructions on how to conduct high-energy, inclusive, and productive experiences.
This webinar delves into how evaluating system change is different from evaluating programs and shares some of the core evaluation principles needed when advancing systems change work.
This podcast discussion explores the Indigenous Futures Survey project and discusses the importance of having community members lead in community data gathering.
This research study looked at 25 collective impact sites and generated a rich set of findings about how the collective impact approach can contribute to systems and population-level changes.
System Change
Discover materials on how to accelerate your collaborative’s work to change the systems that hold inequities in place.
This framework provides an actionable model for organizations and collaboratives interested in creating systems change, particularly those who are working to advance equity.
This tool is designed to help individuals think systemically about social change, explore what is happening below the surface on issues they care about, and determine how they and their organizations can pursue change in a disciplined and holistic manner.
This webinar discussion explores how one can tackle the concepts and conditions involved with systems change work.
What practices support achieving transformational change? This podcast discussion explores ways to shift how we work to reach a deeper level of relationship-building, healing, and systems change.
Ready to dive in?
Access resources, tools, webinars, podcasts, and more in our Resource Library, and check out our calendar to join an upcoming event.
