While the full force of the economic downturn reaches nonprofits, many are being encouraged by funders, the public and the news media alike to consider opportunities to save money by collaborating on programs and sharing resources for back office operations.
Likewise, many in the grantmaking field are doing similar soul-searching to increase the efficiency of their giving, and also to avoid being perceived as disingenuous by the very nonprofits they may be asking to make sacrifices.
As one foundation president quoted in Grantcraft’s report on collaboration stated:
“Funders are asking nonprofits to do so much more in hard times — like merge or even go out of business. But how many foundations are doing the same? It’s the credibility issue; you know, we need to walk our talk.”
Fortunately for grantmakers exploring opportunities to collaborate, Grantcraft’s new guide titled “Funder Collaboratives: Why and How Funders Work Together” offers insights from the field on how grantmaking organizations can pool their resources to give more effectively and produce better outcomes in the communities they work.
Highlights include:
- How to design a collaborative to achieve project goals
- Questions to answer before beginning a collaborative
- Benefits and challenges of funder collaboratives
- Three case studies
Grantcraft’s guide on collaboration can be downloaded for free at grantcraft.org.
Join the conversation: Grantmakers, what strategies for collaboration and resource sharing are you considering? If you are actively engaged in a collaboration, what tips do you have for other grantmaking organizations who are considering doing the same?
-Cary Lenore Walski, MCF web communications associate
Posted by MCF Webmaster 
Minnesota Council on Foundations Blog - Philanthropy Potluck 