Funder and Community Collaboration A presentation at the Philanthropy New Zealand Conference - 10 April 2013 Lessons from The Working Together More Fund

Overview 1.What is The Working Together More Fund? 2.How we got started 3.From idea to implementation 4.Lessons for funding community collaboration 5.Lessons for funders who collaborate 6.Implications for Community Trusts

1. What is the Working Together More Fund? A collaborative initiative between the four funders Objective – to provide seeding money or support to two or more community groups who are looking to collaborate Structure – 1 Administrator / 4 Trustees See

2.1 Beginnings: Responding to the Recession 1.Four funders ask how we can help 2.Responded to Community Group calls for more collaboration 3.Brief –> Scoping Paper –> Community Workshops 4.Let’s pilot this idea

2.2 Logistics: Creating the fund 1.Virtual fund established 2.Real live manager appointed 3.Each funder contributes dollars as they can 4.Each funder contributes a trustee for the selection panel 5.Tindall Foundation provides staff supervision and administrative support

3.1 From quiet launch to feeding frenzy 1. The Launch: October 2009 via using each funders networks 2. The Statistics Round One: 8 –10 calls per day + s 241 applications from all areas of New Zealand 17 collaborative initiatives received funding in first round Grants given for scoping workshops and development of an initiative

3.2 What we found from Round One Reducing resources, increasing demand & tired workers Willingness to change but fear of losing other funding Increased dialogue between groups Gratitude for support to explore collaboration “The desire to work together has always been there; this funding makes it a more realistic option”

3.3 A new year – calmer waters? 1 – 2 phone calls + s Applications predicted for Round Two Different Groups are applying Well planned initiatives proposed

4. Lessons for funding Community Collaboration More than “business as usual” Requires trust and shared values Collaboration has stages and starts with small steps What to fund – is seeding enough? Funding gaps include: –Taking collaboration beyond initial exploration –Forming National organisations from autonomous branches –Shared Services (eg back-office functions)

5. Lessons for Funders who collaborate 1.Collaboration means: “to identify, affirm and nurture the skills and gifts of others on a daily basis” (James Hansen ) “putting up with others’ foibles, while hoping they’ll tolerate yours” (Iain Hines) 2.Making bold decisions can be difficult: Until the stakeholders know each other well When everyone is hyper-considerate! 3. Danger of dropping off the radar in busy times 4.Do it anyway

6. Implications for Community Trusts Huge potential for helping the community through encouraging collaboration WTM Fund is not big enough to fund many initiatives beyond seed funding Are there ways we can work together on initiatives in your regions?

Funder and Community Collaboration Lessons from The Working Together More Fund