The Collaborative Effect:
A first-of-its-kind, grantee-centered study at what makes collaborative funds impactful
Collaborative funds are reshaping philanthropy — but how do they work for the organizations they’re created to support? The Collaborative Effect is the most comprehensive analysis to date of grantee experiences with mid-sized collaborative funds across the United States. Led by Vital Impact, Redstone Strategy Group, and Philanthropy Together, with support from the Hewlett Foundation, the study lifts up grantee voices to illuminate what makes collaboratives build trust, shift power, and deliver impact far beyond their size.
Thank you to the generous support of
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Effective Philanthropy Group
Watch the launch webinar
Hear more from the report co-authors about all the key findings and two grantees about their perspectives.
Who participated in the study?
- 647+ grantee survey responses, benchmarked against CEP’s dataset of 60,000+ responses
- 22 U.S. based collaborative funds moving $1-40M/annually, working across diverse issues, geographies, and approaches
- 4 grantee focus groups and 2 interviews
- 8 in-depth case studies
Why This Research Matters
Collaborative funds are growing quickly across philanthropy. This study helps funders, practitioners, and grantees understand:
- How collaboratives truly function in practice, not in theory
- What grantees say they need most from collaborative partners
- How funders can assess and strengthen their collaborative models
- Practical guidance for designing collaboratives rooted in trust, equity, and resilience
- A clearer path toward philanthropy that centers the communities closest to the work
About the Research Team
This project is a collaboration between:
Philanthropy Together is a global field catalyst elevating the power and importance of collective and collaborative giving through research, storytelling, programming, convenings, and advocacy. Our mission is to democratize and diversify philanthropy by growing and strengthening models where donors come together for greater impact—from giving circles and collaborative funds to nonprofit-led circles, women’s funds, and more. Learn more at philanthropytogether.org.
Redstone Strategy, a division of Vital Impact, empowers philanthropists and changemakers to solve society’s most complex challenges. We combine deep sector expertise with human-centered, data-driven methodologies to deliver customized solutions that create lasting impact. Learn more at redstonestrategy.com.
Vital Impact is a professional services firm that integrates strategy, operations, and technology to meet organizations wherever they are on their impact journey—from shaping early-stage strategy to strengthening finance, HR, and grantmaking operations. We are built to help the social sector move faster, think bigger, and sustain progress over time, translating bold ideas into action and helping mission-driven organizations maximize the reach and results of their resources. Our team brings decades of experience across philanthropy, nonprofits, and social enterprises, supported by technology that makes organizations more efficient, accessible, and scalable. Learn more at www.vitalimpactgroup.com.