Collaboration Across Government and Philanthropy (2026) The growing uncertainty of government-philanthropic partnerships at the federal level has prompted philanthropic organizations to turn to state and local governments in order to address emerging community needs. To better understand the forms these relationships are taking, Ryann Alonso analyzed recent survey data from Grantmakers in Health members and conducted interviews with senior staff from the following four organizations: Jacob and Hilda Foundation, Vitalyst Health Foundation, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and Connecticut Health Foundation. Alonso’s findings underscore the value of institutionalizing long-term partnerships, funding the gap, uplifting community solutions, and meeting partners where they are. This white paper complements the Grantmakers In Health Funder Collaboration Survey Report, which researches the key successes, persistent challenges, and opportunities that health funders have experienced amid deep cuts to health and social services.
Reimagining Leadership in International Education Development (2026) – International education development is at an inflection point, and the leadership the sector has long relied on is no longer enough. Drawing on candid interviews with ten senior leaders across bilateral agencies, multilaterals, INGOs, and philanthropy, including the Global Partnership for Education, Google.org, and Enabel, Doris Mwikali makes the case for a leadership grounded in strategic foresight, a values-driven culture, bold partnerships, and systems thinking. Drawing on her experience as a lawyer and global policy professional at UNICEF, UNESCO, and the IFRC, Doris offers a framework that is both empirically rigorous and designed for practitioners navigating the field today.
Collective Impact in the Nation’s Capital: A Retrospective on Raise DC (2025) – In the case study, CPNL Visiting Practitioner, Lynsey Wood Jeffries, argues that cross-sector collaboration holds great promise for lasting systems-level change. While most collective impact efforts exist for a limited period of time, the relationships built and the policies and procedures changed continue to have impact far beyond the lifespan of the formal collaboration. It is important for the field to document and share these lasting impacts. Similarly, it is critical that we learn about the challenges faced in implementation—obstacles related to power, leadership, and organizational structures are common.
