New Case Study on Collective Impact

Posted in News Story

The Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership is excited to share new research by our Visiting Practitioner, Lynsey Wood Jeffries, Collective Impact in the Nation’s Capital: A Retrospective on Raise DC (2012–2024). Lynsey’s research provided an opportunity for leaders from various stages of the collective impact effort to reflect on their accomplishments and lessons learned and share them with the broader field.

In the case study, Lynsey 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 by Raise DC continue to support young people in DC today. 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—ranging from power and leadership, to data sharing and funding.

As a result of this research, several leaders of Raise DC have reconvened to reflect and consider what might be possible for future collaboration, given the threats facing DC youth in this era.