Introduction to Collaboration

October 22, 2008

2008 Funding Resources Face to Face ConferenceDetroit, Michigan

Presented by:Angela Smith & Michael DiRamio

City Connect Detroit

City Connect Detroit

Desired Outcomes• Participants generally understand what successful

collaboration is, how it works in practice, and how it canhelp address community issues.

• Participants understand some of the challenges andopportunities created by collaborating with others.

• Participants have a sense of what they can do to be aneffective collaborator.

• Participants know where they can go for additionalinformation and resources.

Outline1. Introductions

2. Collaboration…definedchallenges and opportunitiesexamples in action

3. Mock Collaborative (interactive session)

4. Additional Ideas and Resources

• Name• Organization

Hello My Name is…

What is Collaboration?

Working together with others to achieve acommon goal

Standards for Successful Collaboration1

1. An appropriate mix of members from across sectors.

2. A clear purpose and vision.

3. Clear and stated goals with timelines for achieving them.

4. A manageable and agreed upon pace of meetings.

5. Effective meeting management procedures.

6. Ongoing and frequent communications.

7. An established fundraising goal.

8. A funding plan.

9. Consideration of collaborative role and positioning in political and social climate.

10. Clear expectations for “lifespan” of collaborative.

11. Effective leadership and shared opportunities to lead.

1 Mattesich, Paul W. Collaboration: What Makes it Work, Second Edition.Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, MN. May 2001.

Why Collaborate?

• Whole is greater than sum of the parts• Leverage more funding opportunities• Grow your relationships• Increase your potential to create new,

more holistic solutions for the community

Opportunities

• What are your stories of success?

City Connect Detroit Collaboratives

Detroit Food& Fitness Collaborative

North EndNeighborhoodCollaborative

Principalfor a Day

CompassionCapital

PrisonerRe-Entry

Access to Recreation

Management ServiceOrganizations

Detroit Positive YouthDevelopment

AfricanAmericanCulturalCoalition

Long-Term CareCollaborative

MentoringCollaborative

Detroit DataPartnership

City of Detroit

DetroitCollaborative to EndHomelessnessTogether

City of Highland Park

Basic HumanNeeds

WayneCounty

Motown’s Downtowns

African AmericanBusiness Alliance

Growing Well

Collaboratives are able to…

• Champion

• Facilitate

• Educate

• Demonstrate

Detroit Positive Youth DevelopmentCollaborative

DPYD Partners• Communities in Schools, Youth

Development Commission, YouthConnection, Children’s Aid Society,Mayor’s Time, Children’s Center, CityConnect Detroit, Southeastern Village,Southwest Counseling and DevelopmentServices

Detroit Positive Youth DevelopmentCollaborative

21st Century Community LearningCenter Afterschool Programming

Partnership: Detroit Public Schools, Children’sAid Society, The Children’s Center,Communities in Schools, Youth DevelopmentCommission

Service: Delivery of Afterschool Programming to55 Detroit Public Schools

Detroit Positive Youth DevelopmentCollaborative

• Martial Arts• Fine Arts• Theater• Poetry• Crafts

• Team Sports• Multi-Cultural Dance• Basket Weaving• Technology Assistance• Website Development

Social Enrichment Activities

Opportunities and Challenges

Opportunities

•Academic and SocialEnrichment for Students

•Safety between 3:00 p.m. and6:00 p.m.

•Millions of dollars in funding forafterschool Programs

Challenges•Trust•Contract Development•Changes in Management

Common Challenges

• Trust• Money• Decision-making• Leadership• Transparency• Accountability• Challenges you have experienced?

“Our learnings about

collaboration have been

profound and offer hope for

nonprofits, businesses and other

organizations to achieve greater

impact, even in tough times.

WE ARE CONVINCED THAT

IMPROVING LIVES HINGES ON

ORGANIZATIONS SUCCESSFULLY

WORKING TOGETHER, ACROSS

SECTORS, AROUND COMMON

GOALS.”

-Geneva J. Williams

The JOURNEY :Putting Collaboration into Practice

Nonprofit Sector

Public SectorPrivateFor Profit Sector

Exercise: Mock CollaborativeGroups of 4 – 6 people

Objective: Participate in a Mock Strategic Planning Session (missionstatement, goals, stakeholder selection)

Skills Practiced: Consensus Building, Facilitation, Listening,Collaboration

Target Populations• Youth• Schools• Senior Citizens• Community and Economic Revitalization

Collaboration Technologies

• WIKI• Social Networking• List servers• Caveat – These can enhance, not replace

traditional means (in person, phone, etc.)

“Spider Web” Activity

• How can you be an effective collaborator?• What qualities strengthen capacity to

collaborate?

Collaboration – Tips and Takeaways

• Look around before you start a project• Look for existing collaborations to join• If you are starting your own collaboration:

– Focus on the issue and creating community outcomes– Take stock and use assets…yours and others– Be patient and willing to share (set the example)

• Complex issues -- one organization cannot do italone

• Collaboration builds capacity for funding

Additional Resources

• www.cityconnectdetroit.org

• www.afterschoolalliance.org/sustain.pdf

• Mattesich, Paul W. Collaboration: WhatMakes it Work, Second Edition. AmherstH. Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, MN. May2001.