State of Collaboration in Ontario’s Nonprofit Sector Research Project

Preliminary Findings

Heather Graham

Catherine Lang

Linda Mollenhauer

With Lynn Eakin

Research Objectives

New, emerging and evolving

Challenges and opportunities How to advance it and why

OTF strategies to strengthen

Methodology

Literature review

Online survey

Key informant interviews

Collaboration is…

Two or more different partners coming together

from diverse sectors, groups or regions to work

toward common goals

Collaboration is…

A means not an end

Innovation in Collaboration

In front and behind

Intentional and surprising

Radical or incremental

In the eyes of the beholder

Innovation in Collaboration

Innovation needs collaboration but

collaboration isn’t always innovative

Context

“Transformation is not optional”

1. COLLABORATION/COMPETITION

It comes back to mission and community

KEY INFORMANT QUOTE

“I see such a laser beam focus on mission, that people are able to set

aside turf issues – I am seeing much less the - our stuff is better than your

stuff.”

2. GROWING UP

Reaching a critical mass

Taking a more measured approach

But…

Looking to access and share tools/templates and experiences

3. MORE STRATEGIC

Drive for social change and impact is bringing together non- traditional, cross-sectoral partners…

4. MORE COMPLEX

New, diverse and non-traditional partners

More time and different skills

Workable structures

KEY INFORMANT QUOTE

“The problems and opportunities we are facing are bigger and more complex

than ever before, and people are coming at it from multiple sectors to

find solutions. We need a better understanding of how and why to work

out of silos.”

5. ENABLING NOT MANDATED

Build organically

Create the space to explore

Articulate the goals, roles, systems

KEY INFORMANT QUOTE

“Often those who resist collaboration cite past instances when collaboration

was forced on them, or when it was used as an excuse to reduce funding. Those legitimate negative experiences

are hard to overcome.”

6. SUSTAINABILITY

Short-term, one time, project specific funding is a barrier to

success

KEY INFORMANT QUOTES

“These are pattern shifting changes that require time. Five years is far too

short.”

“It took at least 10 years to get solid – the collaborative almost dissolved at least

once a year during

the first decade.”

7. LOW RISK TOLERANCE

8. SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS

Accessibility and appropriateness

Right capacity

KEY INFORMANT QUOTES

“Everyone is so busy. How can we use technology/social media to maintain strong

healthy communication and reach out to others that may be interested in becoming

involved?”

“In the next five years we’ll be working in a more networked way. But we’ll also need to

do the opposite – invest deeply in the relationship side of networks.”

9. LEAD ORGANIZATIONS

Driven by funder requirements

Creates challenges of inequity

New forms are developing to address them

10. UNINTENDED IMPACTS

Capacity building

Leadership

Learning

New organizations and relationships

11. ROLE FOR INTERMEDIARIES

Foster

BrokerStreamline

Facilitate

NOW WHERE….

Incorporate symposium learning

Dig deeper into solutions

Create more narratives

Generate recommendations

SECTOR INGENUITY