Recognizing the limits of individual organizations to create change, many funders and nonprofits choose to invest in coalitions and networks to expand reach, foster collaboration, and enhance outcomes. Unfortunately, few coalitions achieve all of their intended results.

What are the crucial ingredients for an effective coalition or network, and how can they be cultivated and evaluated? TCC Group Associate Director Jared Raynor recently published What Makes an Effective Coalition?  This new research is the second in a series of briefing papers commissioned by The California Endowment, a leading funder of policy advocacy efforts.

Learn more about how coalitions can work collectively by sharing leadership, articulating a clear value proposition, employing transparent decision-making processes, and measuring performance.  Discover how coalitions can sidestep conflict, cease debating to death, and stop fighting for credit.

>>Download the paper here.  

Foundations (and many nonprofits) frequently collect large amounts of data that can provide rich learning opportunities to advance best practices, but which are rarely shared and often under utilized. 

TCC Group is working with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to analyze a "goldmine" of data from its Organizational Effectiveness (OE) program and share lessons learned with the field. Instead of disseminating a final report, this project uses a "learning in public" approach that makes findings available along the way and uses social media, webinars, and convenings to engage a variety of stakeholders in the data-analysis process.

>>To learn more about the latest findings, click here.

>>To join in making meaning, visit Packard's wiki site.

Additionally, Beth Kanter's recent blog post highlights a round table discussion with Packard Program Officer Kathy Reich and TCC Group Senior Partner Paul Connolly about Packard's "Goldmine" evaluation.