State of Collaboration in Ontario’s Nonprofit Sector Research Project Preliminary Findings

1. State of Collaboration in Ontario’s Nonprofit Sector Research Project Preliminary Findings Heather Graham Catherine Lang Linda Mollenhauer With Lynn Eakin

2. Research Objectives • New, emerging and evolving • Challenges and opportunities • How to advance it and why • OTF strategies to strengthen

3. Methodology • Literature review • Online survey • Key informant interviews

4. Collaboration is… Two or more different partners coming together from diverse sectors, groups or regions to work toward common goals

5. Collaboration is… A means not an end

6. Innovation in Collaboration • In front and behind • Intentional and surprising • Radical or incremental • In the eyes of the beholder

7. Innovation in Collaboration Innovation needs collaboration but collaboration isn’t always innovative

9. Context “Transformation is not optional”

10. 1. COLLABORATION/COMPETITION It comes back to mission and community

11. 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.”

12. 2. GROWING UP Reaching a critical mass Taking a more measured approach But… Looking to access and share tools/templates and experiences

13. 3. MORE STRATEGIC Drive for social change and impact is bringing together non- traditional, cross-sectoral partners…

14. 4. MORE COMPLEX • New, diverse and non-traditional partners • More time and different skills • Workable structures

15. 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.”

16. 5. ENABLING NOT MANDATED • Build organically • Create the space to explore • Articulate the goals, roles, systems

17. 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.”

18. 6. SUSTAINABILITY Short-term, one time, project specific funding is a barrier to success

19. 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.”

20. 7. LOW RISK TOLERANCE

21. 8. SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS • Accessibility and appropriateness • Right capacity

22. 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.”

23. 9. LEAD ORGANIZATIONS • Driven by funder requirements • Creates challenges of inequity • New forms are developing to address them

24. 10. UNINTENDED IMPACTS Capacity building Leadership Learning New organizations and relationships

25. 11. ROLE FOR INTERMEDIARIES Facilitate Foster Broker Streamline

26. NOW WHERE…. • Incorporate symposium learning • Dig deeper into solutions • Create more narratives • Generate recommendations

27. SECTOR INGENUITY