Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton spoke at SSIR’s Nonprofit Management Institute about building trust for successful collaboration. (Photo by Charles Russo)

Again and again at SSIR's Nonprofit Management Institute 2019, speakers homed in on the importance of people coming together to confront climate change, political polarization, economic inequality, and other ills threatening the world and civil society with potentially paralyzing anxiety.

We must pull "more people into the philanthropic circle," said Tyrone McKinley Freeman, an assistant professor of philanthropic studies at Indiana University. "We have got to think big" and "be less afraid" of losing something through collaboration, said Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland. "We have to co-create everything with community," said Jeffrey Moore, chief strategy officer of Independent Sector. "We have to work together in and across philanthropy, civil society, government, academia," said Charlotte Pera, president and CEO of ClimateWorks.

It won't be easy. The complexity of big problems like climate change can drown attempts to get started with solutions. Good intentions can't take the place of some basic requirements for joining forces. Ramping up solutions to a scale that meets the immensity of the challenges cannot rely on luck, and only 61 percent of respondents to an informal SSIR Twitter poll believed NGOs would lead the world into a better future.

But for organizations ready to take on those challenges and come together, Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton has a reminder: "Change in collaboration really only moves at the speed of trust." Building those relationships will take more than nice memos about teaming up—try joint projects, said Bradford Smith, president of Candid. And if you're struggling to get others behind your cause, recognize that motivating them is a functional, emotional, social, and aspirational undertaking.

Are you enjoying this article? Read more like this, plus SSIR's full archive of content, when you subscribe.

Skip to a Session Recap

  1. Opening Discussion: The Changing Face of American Philanthropy
  2. Moving Forward: Merger as a Growth Strategy
  3. Vital Balance: Innovation and Scaling for Impact in the Social Sector
  4. Leveraging Talent: The Power of Skills-Based Volunteering
  5. Achieving Great Things: The Art and Science of Aspirational Communication
  6. Working Together: How Public Sector and Nonprofit Leaders Can Collaborate to Tackle the Toughest Challenges
  7. Keynote: Trust, Power, Equity: Telling a Better Story to Ourselves and the World
  8. Weathering the Storm: Lessons on Effectively Managing Through Tough Times
  9. Activating Audiences: Partnering Beyond the "Usual Suspects” to Spotlight Social Issues
  10. Leading With Purpose: Acceptance, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion
  11. Climate Change: The Power of a Transcendent Issue to Motivate and Affect Real Change

Session 1: Opening Discussion: The Changing Face of American Philanthropy

Kim Meredith, executive director of the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, and Tyrone Freeman, assistant professor of philanthropic studies at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and coauthor of Race, Gender, and Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations, discussed common myths of modern philanthropy, the true history of giving by minority groups in the United States, and ideas on how to better connect with givers in anxious times.

Go Deeper

Session 2: Moving Forward: Merger as a Growth Strategy

Three veterans of mergers—David La Piana, managing partner of La Piana Consulting, Rinku Sen, a racial justice activist, author, and strategist, and Bradford Smith, president of Candid—discussed the upsides and risks of nonprofit mergers.

Go Deeper

Session 3: Vital Balance: Innovation and Scaling for Impact in the Social Sector

Christian Seelos, coauthor of the best-selling book Innovation and Scaling for Impact and co-director of the Global Innovation for Impact Lab at Stanford PACS, examined various “innovation pathologies” that can derail organizations and “innovation archetypes”—case study-based models that sidestep these threats, blending innovation with scaling.

Go Deeper

  • Read an SSIR article examining the factors that undermine the impact potential of an innovation effort: “When Innovation Goes Wrong.”
  • Read an SSIR article about organizations using system change to tackle big social problems: “Mastering System Change.”

Session 4: Leveraging Talent: The Power of Skills-Based Volunteering

How can skills-based volunteering engage and strengthen your teams amid transitional, high-anxiety, or crisis situations? Danielle Holly, chief executive officer of Common Impact; Cecily Joseph, former vice president of corporate responsibility with Symantec; and Greg Kimbrough, lead director of executive development at the Boys & Girls Club of America shared insights gleaned from their experiences with volunteer programs. 

Go Deeper

Session 5: Achieving Great Things: The Art and Science of Aspirational Communication

Doug Hattaway, president of Hattaway Communications, explored the best ways to use strategy, science, and storytelling to connect with an audience.

Go Deeper

Session 6: Working Together: How Public Sector and Nonprofit Leaders Can Collaborate to Tackle the Toughest Challenges

Mayors Libby Schaaf of Oakland and Michael Tubbs of Stockton spoke with Autumn McDonald, director of New America CA, about the best ways to build successful, mutually beneficial partnerships between local government and nonprofits.

Go Deeper

Session 7: Keynote: Trust, Power, Equity: Telling a Better Story to Ourselves and the World

Jeffrey Moore, chief strategy officer of Independent Sector, examined trends with the potential to restore the nonprofit sector's self-confidence and bring back the public's trust in it.

Go Deeper

Session 8: Weathering the Storm: Lessons on Effectively Managing Through Tough Times

Maria Orozco, principal of The Bridgespan Group, explored lessons from the last recession and drew from her organization's work in the years since to share insight on surviving and thriving in difficult times.

Go Deeper

Session 9: Activating Audiences: Partnering Beyond the 'Usual Suspects' to Spotlight Social Issues

Storytelling can expand and accelerate social change. Advice on how to wield narratives emerged from a panel discussion with: Jessica Blank, a writer, director, actor, lecturer, and social innovator; Nicole Starr, vice president for social impact at Participant Media; Marya Bangee, executive director of Harness; and Courtney Cogburn, associate professor at Columbia University School of Social Work.

Go Deeper

Session 10: Leading With Purpose: Acceptance, Mindfulness, and Self-Compassion

Leah Weiss, PhD, is the lecturer behind the popular “Leading With Mindfulness and Compassion” course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and the author of How We Work. She described how to lead with acceptance and resilience using proven self-compassion and mindfulness techniques.

Go Deeper

Session 11: Climate Change: The Power of a Transcendent Issue to Motivate and Affect Real Change

Larry Kramer, president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Charlotte Pera, president and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation, discussed the impact of climate change on society and nonprofits.

Go Deeper

Support SSIR’s coverage of cross-sector solutions to global challenges. 
Help us further the reach of innovative ideas. Donate today.

Read more stories by Barbara Wheeler-Bride & M. Amedeo Tumolillo.