How can we make philanthropic collaboration work for everyone? 

“Collaboration” has become one of the most common grant requirements: Nonprofits are asked how they build partnerships, share resources, and expand impact. Yet, many funders who expect collaboration among nonprofits still work separately—from one another and even from their grantees. While some foundations do collaborate through pooled funds or joint initiatives, these examples are rarely visible to the nonprofits carrying out the work. 

For collaboration to be meaningful and sustainable, it has to work for everyone involved. It requires both funders and nonprofits to approach it as a shared way of working, not just a grant requirement. Sustainable collaboration becomes possible when both sides align on clear expectations, share data and feedback, communicate openly and regularly, and simplify processes.  

The philanthropic collaboration paradox 

Nonprofits are expected to partner with peers and design collective programs while competing for the same pool of funding. At the same time, funders often bring their own deadlines, forms, and reporting systems, adding layers of administrative work that make collaboration harder to maintain. A nonprofit can spend as much time managing multiple portals as it does delivering a program.  

Even grantmaking practices built around fairness and accountability often end up reinforcing competition. Funders face their own challenges, too: Aligning across organizations requires time, trust, and coordination.

Sustainable collaboration starts with a mindset shift—from competition to shared progress. Funders can view coordination itself as part of their impact, while nonprofits can see honest communication as a form of accountability. When both simplify processes and are clear about what’s working and what isn’t, collaboration has space to grow. 

What does sustainable collaboration look like? 

Sustainable collaboration works best when funders and nonprofits align goals and use shared data and feedback to achieve them. It shifts the focus from individual grant performance to collective progress—so everyone learns from the same information rather than running parallel efforts toward similar goals. When funders and grantees share responsibility for results, it creates mutual accountability: Nonprofits aren’t left to carry the weight of demonstrating program effectiveness alone, and funders become active partners in learning and problem solving. In practice, this includes shared evaluation tools, coordinated reporting, or regular joint check-ins to reflect on progress together. 

Currently only a few cents per philanthropic dollar flow through truly collaborative mechanisms. Research from the Bridgespan Group found over 300 philanthropic collaboratives worldwide directing between $4 billion and $7 billion annually—a small fraction of the $100 billion-plus that U.S. foundations distribute each year. While collaboration among funders is growing, most giving still happens independently, even when goals overlap. And local or regional partnerships are far less visible to nonprofits than these large-scale collaboratives, leaving many community-based organizations without clear ways to connect. 

Even so, the COVID-19 pandemic showed that collaboration among funders is not only possible but powerful. Across the nation and globe, funders pooled resources to meet urgent community needs. The Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund united more than 80 philanthropic, corporate, and public partners, raised over $20 million, and supported 675 nonprofits in a single year. Similar initiatives—like California’s multi-funder Together Toward Health—proved funders can move quickly when barriers are lowered and priorities align. Yet, as the crisis passed, most funders reverted to individual grantmaking rather than maintaining the coordinated platforms that had proven so effective. 

What steps can we take toward sustainable collaboration? 

Practical ways for funders to collaborate and help nonprofits include: 

• Simplifying applications and reports by sharing core questions or using the same online platforms so nonprofits don’t have to repeat information 
• Sharing learning goals by inviting grantees to help shape evaluation questions. 
• Meeting together through joint check-ins or site visits—especially those involving multiple funders and grantees—to build relationships and minimize conflicting expectations. 

Many funders are already moving in this direction. The Documentary Core Application simplifies proposals by standardizing key questions. The Fund for Shared Insight and Blue Meridian Partners involve grantees in shaping evaluation goals and turning reporting into a shared learning process. Meanwhile, collaboratives such as Living Cities and Funders Together to End Homelessness host joint check-ins and site visits to align strategies and strengthen relationships. These examples show that when funders align processes—not just priorities—they make collaboration tangible and accessible for nonprofits. 

Nonprofits also play a role by convening their top funders to discuss shared mission areas and explore how combined support can strengthen outcomes. These conversations deepen trust between funders and nonprofits and enable more sustainable partnerships.  

Making collaboration a shared practice 

Funders can model sustainable collaboration by aligning timelines, clarifying goals, and listening to what nonprofits need to reduce duplication. Nonprofits can support those efforts by sharing information openly and inviting funders to plan together. 

When collaboration works this way, everyone benefits: Nonprofits spend less time navigating systems, funders gain clearer insight into results, and communities see more consistent impact. 

Photo credit: jacoblund/Getty Images