Collective Impact

Introduction

How do we move the needle on a complex community issue?

Collective Impact enables a group of organizations to address a major challenge by developing an integrated plan of interventions that fundamentally changes population-level outcomes in a community.

When successful, communities solve big complex challenges (e.g., youth unemployment, low graduation rates, poverty) or make substantial societal shifts (e.g., more sustainable food systems) by creating a shared multi-sector understanding of the problem, a common vision, and an action plan with shared measurements and reinforcing activities.

Based on our experience working with Collective Impact initiatives, Innoweave has adapted the original five conditions of Collective Impact (Kania & Kramer, 2012) to underscore and prioritize the need for common outcome goals and approaches:

Priority # 1

• Clearly define population-level outcome goals

Priority # 2

• Define a clear model of the integrated efforts required to achieve those goals

Once Priorities #1 and #2 have been defined, they are supported by:

• Shared measurement of outcomes and leading indicators
• Continuous communication and improvement
• Backbone coordination and support

Collective Impact initiatives can help with issues that:

• Are difficult to address, and change with every attempt to address them
• Involve multiple stakeholders with different values and priorities
• Have causes and drivers that are interdependent
• Are filled with uncertainties and unknowns
• Require multiple new solutions that will need to be constantly tested and adjusted

Collective Impact process

The Innoweave Collective Impact process helps groups of community organizations apply the Collective Impact approach to achieve a shared population-level impact goal. Through customized coaching and launch funds, the process is designed to help groups build a comprehensive plan on how to move forward with a successful Collective Impact initiative.

Collective Impact (Early Support)

Collaboratives will be able to apply for up to $10,000 worth of Collective Impact coaching to:

• Develop their Intended Impact Statement and Theory of Change
• Conduct data gathering, engagement, and validation of the Intended Impact Statement and Theory of Change
• Develop an engagement strategy

Pre-requisite:

• None

Collective Impact (Advanced Support)

Collaboratives will be able to apply for up to $46,500 of support.

Coaching (up to $6,500) – Support to develop a Collective Impact Action Plan, which can include:

• Defining and confirming a governance model
• Developing a learning agenda
• Developing an evaluation measurement framework
• Developing a communications plan

Launch Funding (up to $40,000) – Support for activities related to the launch of a Collective Impact initiative, which can include:

• Hiring a backbone coordinator
• Communications materials
• Convening costs
• Etc.

Pre-requisite:

• Successfully completed Collective Impact (Early Support) coaching and have been invited to apply to Collective Impact (Advanced Support) by Innoweave staff.
• Collaboratives that have strong elements of a Collective Impact plan already in place and believe that they need a customized approach to their coaching/funding should contact info@innoweave.ca to discuss options for moving forward.