Networks Practitioners ConveningJuly 17th, 2013 – David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Heather McLeod Grant, McLeod Grant AdvisorsGigi Barsoum, Barsoum Policy Consulting

Agenda

9:30 Mingle and Coffee

10:00 Welcome, Goals and Agenda

10:15 Introductions: Who’s in our Network?

11:15 Setting the Frame

11:30 Catalyzing and Supporting Networks

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Network Structure and Governance

2:45 Open Space

3:45 Break

4:00 Synthesis and Summary

4:15 Next Steps

5:00 Optional Dinner

1. Build shared understanding and clarity around language and framing: networks, collective impact, collaboration, movements, coalitions, campaigns, etc.

2. Explore specific network building strategies, tactics, and lessons learned to date, from a practitioner perspective.

3. Provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning on approaches and challenges to network weaving/ building.

4. Identify next steps and whether there’s appetite to have an on-going community of practice on this topic.

Goals

Agenda

9:30 Mingle and Coffee

10:00 Welcome, Goals and Agenda

10:15 Introductions: Who’s in our Network?

11:15 Setting the Frame

11:30 Catalyzing and Supporting Networks

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Network Structure and Governance

2:45 Open Space

3:45 Break

4:00 Synthesis and Summary

4:15 Next Steps

5:00 Optional Dinner

About Our Network

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About Our NetworkFocus Of Network

About Our Network

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Size/Scope of Network

About Our Network

Hub Weaver Technical Assistance

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Role In Network

About Our NetworkChallenges

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What We Want To Get from This Meeting

Agenda

9:30 Mingle and Coffee

10:00 Welcome, Goals and Agenda

10:15 Introductions: Who’s in our Network?

11:15 Setting the Frame

11:30 Catalyzing and Supporting Networks

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Network Structure and Governance

2:45 Open Space

3:45 Break

4:00 Synthesis and Summary

4:15 Next Steps

5:00 Optional Dinner

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Network of Network Funders

Consulting Network Formation Research

This Presentation Draws on Many Sources, including Monitor Institute

To Network (verb): To connect or interact with other individuals, groups, or institutions in order to cultivate productive relationships

To Collaborate (verb): To work jointly with others or together especially around shared goals

Network (noun): A collection of people and/or organizations connected to each other through meaningful relationships. A structure or means for organizing.

Collective Impact (noun): The end outcome of groups or individuals working together to achieve common goals in a particular field or geographical area.

Definitions of Network, Collaborate and Collective Impact

Definitions of Campaigns, Coalitions and Movement Building

Movement: A sustained collective action driven by the people most impacted with a widely shared common vision and a deep and broad capacity to employ multiple mechanisms of influence to disrupt, persuade, and negotiate – from legislative advocacy to operates “inside” the policymaking arena to community organizing that puts pressure on institutions of power from the “outside.” This includes a mechanism to knit together disparate organizations and individuals who can put ideas into action and translate the action into change.

Campaign:A coordinated frequently multi-strategy effort to educate, inform and/or influence public or political will.

Coalition: An organization or organizations whose members commit to an agreed-on purpose and shared decision making to influence an external institution or target, while each member organization maintains its own autonomy.

• Centralized, hierarchical• Connecting takes time• Closed and proprietary• Effectiveness is equated with

longevity

• Decentralized, collaborative• Connecting is speeding up• Open and transparent, porous• Effectiveness is equated with

mobilization, alignment

We are Moving from an “Organization” World, to a Networked World

Organization-centric model Network-centric model

• Membership Network: weave social ties, build community among members

• Innovation Network: access new & diverse perspectives, prototype

• Communities of Practice: openly build & share knowledge on a topic

• Collective Impact: create aligned action on an issue or in a place

• Movement-building/ Advocacy/ Campaigns: coordinate resources & action around a specific cause

Some Common Types of Networks in the Room

Agenda

9:30 Mingle and Coffee

10:00 Welcome, Goals and Agenda

10:15 Introductions: Who’s in our Network?

11:15 Setting the Frame

11:30 Catalyzing and Supporting Networks

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Network Structure and Governance

2:45 Open Space

3:45 Break

4:00 Synthesis and Summary

4:15 Next Steps

5:00 Optional Dinner

Adapted from the work of iScale and June Holley & Valdis Krebs

Stages of Network Lifecycle

Network Evolution Scattered Fragments Hub and Spoke Network

Multi-Hub Network Core/Periphery Network

Source: Building Smart Communities through Network Weaving, by Valdis Krebs and June Holley

Network Evolution Discussion Questions

1. How do you know if a network approach is appropriate or needed? Are there indicators of readiness?

2. How do you catalyze a network? What are the conditions that promote self-organizing and connectivity? What, if any, is the role of a shared goal or vision?

3. How do you support network development? Does the approach vary with the developmental stage of the network?

Agenda

9:30 Mingle and Coffee

10:00 Welcome, Goals and Agenda

10:15 Introductions: Who’s in our Network?

11:15 Setting the Frame

11:30 Catalyzing and Supporting Networks

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Network Structure and Governance

2:45 Open Space

3:45 Break

4:00 Synthesis and Summary

4:15 Next Steps

5:00 Optional Dinner

Purpose

Membership / Participation

Strategy and Structure

Leadership

Communications & Technology

Resource Management

Assessment

• Clarity of purpose• Value creation/ outcomes

• Trust, engagement• Defining of network boundaries (who is “in”?)

• Balance online and in-person• Space for convening

• Shared leadership

• Strategic use of IT• Ample communication channels

• Resourced at network level

• Shared measurement• Feedback loops

Governance• Governance by group• Openness and transparency

Helpful Sources: M. Kearns and K. Showalter; J. Holley and V. Krebs; P. Plastrik and M. Taylor; J. W. Skillern; C. Shirky

Diagnostic Tool: Characteristics of Healthy Networks

2323

ReAmp Network at a Glance

• Founded in 2003-04 by The Garfield Foundation

• Desire to build a network to change a system

• Now comprised of 138 nonprofits and 15 funders across 8 states

• Goal: to reduce global warming emissions 80% by 2050

= Policy Success = Policy in Play

Systemic Alignment = Accelerated Social Impact

Source: The ReAmp Network; “Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System”, by Heather McLeod Grant & Monitor Institute

ReAmp Network Key Takeaways

START BY UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM YOU ARE TRYING TO CHANGE

INVOLVE BOTH FUNDERS AND NONPROFITS AS EQUALS FROM THE OUTSET

DESIGN FOR A NETWORK, NOT AN ORGANIZATION—AND INVEST IN COLLECTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE

CULTIVATE LEADERSHIP AT MANY LEVELS

CREATE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE

REMAIN ADAPTIVE AND EMERGENT—AND COMMITTED TO A LONG-TERM VISION

Source: The ReAmp Network; “Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System”, by Heather McLeod Grant & Monitor Institute

ReAmp Network Systems Map

Source: The ReAmp Network; “Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System”, by Heather McLeod Grant & Monitor Institute

ReAmp Network InfrastructureNATL.

ENVIRONMENTAL ORGS.

CAUCUS:

Youth

CAUCUS:

Rural

YOUTH ORGS.

FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES

RURALCOMMUNTY

ORGANIZATIONS

NONPROFITS TRACKING

M.G.A. POLICY

CAUCUS: Natl.

Environmental Organizations

CAUCUS: Midwest

Governors Association

WORKING GROUP:

Energy Efficiency

WORKING GROUP:

Coal

WORKING GROUP:

Found-ations

WORKING GROUP: Global

Warming Solutions

WORKING GROUP:

Clean Energy

WORKING GROUP:

Transpor-tation

ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS

ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS

ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS

ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS

ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS

ENVIRONMENTALFUNDERS

Media Center The Commons (Online)

Global Warming Strategic Action Fund

Learning & Progress Reports

In-Person Meetings

CAUCUS: Faith-Based Community

Synergy Committee

Steering Committee

Source: The ReAmp Network; “Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System”, by Heather McLeod Grant & Monitor Institute

Sources: Peter Plastrik and Madeleine Taylor, Net Gains (2006); Beth Kanter; Stephanie Lowell , Building the Field of Dreams (2007); White, Wenger, and Smith, Digital Habitats (2009)

ORGANIZER/ ENTREPRENEUR

LEAD FUNDER

NETWORK COORDINATOR & STAFF

CONSULTANTS/ FACILITATORS

ELECTED MEMBER LEADERSHIP

• Links to participants• Brings in resources & facilitators • Ensures flow of information

• Provides initial resources for organizing the network• Invests in network capacity building

• Deepen connections between participants• Organize the group• Assist with sense-making & provide the right context for solution-making

• Facilitates use of technology • Organizes convenings• Weaves the network

• Steering Committee• Working Group leaders• Leadership can emerge anywhere

Many Leadership Roles in the Network

Source: Strive Partnership

Strive Partnership - A Cradle to Career Vision for Education

Source: Strive Partnership

A Selection of Strive’s 300 Partnership Organizations

Source: Strive Partnership

Framework for Building a Cradle to Career Civic Infrastructure

Source: Strive Partnership

Strive Community Report Card - Excerpt

Source: FSG.org

Five Elements of Collective Impact

Common Agenda

Shared Measurement

Mutually Reinforcing Activities

Continuous Communication

Backbone Organizations

Source: Strive Partnership

Strive Network Expansion

Network Structure and Governance Discussion Questions

1. How do you establish a network governance structure and who is involved in deciding that structure?

2. What factors influence the network structure? Culture? Issue/Purpose? Size?

3. What are the shared capacities needed for a network and how can they be fostered?

4. How are and what types of communication and information systems built into the structure to facilitate information flow, collaboration, sharing, learning and innovation?

Agenda

9:30 Mingle and Coffee

10:00 Welcome, Goals and Agenda

10:15 Introductions: Who’s in our Network?

11:15 Setting the Frame

11:30 Catalyzing and Supporting Networks

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Network Structure and Governance

2:45 Open Space

3:45 Break

4:00 Synthesis and Summary

4:15 Next Steps

5:00 Optional Dinner

Appendix/ Backup Slides

Types of Networks and Collaboration – A Spectrum

Type Structure Examples

Organization Nonprofit Organizations Packard Foundation

Membership Organizations SV2Full Circle FundCatalytic WomenSpark

Hybrid Nonprofit Organizations with affiliate or network structure

StriveBoys and Girls Clubs

Coalition / Alliance / Campaign Beyond Coal Campaign

Network Movement-Building Nonprofits MoveOn.orgChildren’s Movement

Ad Hoc Networks,Networks of Networks

Flash MobsFacebook

Centralized / Hierarchical

Decentralized

Source: Monitor Institute; Net Gains by Plastrik and Taylor (‘06); Net Work by Anklam (‘07); Building Smart Communities by Krebs and Holley

The “Secret Sauce” of Networks & Collaboration

Unlearning past behaviors (not reverting to

organizational model)

Sharing knowledge and collective learning

Source of images: Cut Throat Communications; Blog.com; Rutgers University RU FAIR; Kodaikanal International School; flickr

Learning and leveraging new technologies

Letting go of control, messiness of process

Identifying and measuring impact/ network “health”

Decision rights; interface with outside world

Continuing to engage network participants

Challenges Faced by Network Leaders

Core

Link Node

Cluster Periphery

Hub

Understanding Networks: Definitions

Source: Monitor Institute; Net Gains by Plastrik and Taylor (‘06); Net Work by Anklam (‘07); Building Smart Communities by Krebs and Holley

Using Network Maps to Plan Development, Track Network Evolution

Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe

Barr Foundation: Boston Green & Healthy Buildings

The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2005

Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe

The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2007

Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe