Collective Impact

Living Cities brings together 18 of America's largest foundations and financial institutions to address urban challenges through integrated capital. Rather than fragmented grants, Living Cities deploys debt, equity, and grants in coordinated strategies. Their Integration Initiative brought $80M+ to five cities for cross-sector systems change. The model proves that patient, coordinated capital from diverse sources can tackle problems no single funder could address alone.

• 18 foundations and financial institutions
• $2B+ deployed in urban solutions
• Integrated capital strategies

StriveTogether pioneered the modern collective impact model: bringing together education, business, government, and nonprofit leaders around shared outcomes with rigorous data tracking. Starting in Cincinnati, the network now includes 70+ communities covering 14 million young people. The 'Strive' approach—shared agenda, backbone organisation, continuous improvement—has become the template for place-based collective action. Evidence shows participating communities improving faster on key educational outcomes.

• 70+ community partnerships
• 14M+ young people served
• Cradle-to-career framework

Tamarack Institute has become the backbone of backbones—training and supporting collective impact initiatives across Canada and beyond. Their model: teach communities to build their own lasting capacity rather than depending on outside experts. Tamarack has supported hundreds of community collaboratives in poverty reduction, youth development, and systems change. The institute itself regenerates through training fees, allowing it to operate independently of any single funder.

• National backbone supporting local backbones
• Collective impact training and certification
• Vibrant Communities poverty reduction network

Ten20 Foundation takes a radical approach to philanthropy: 10-year funding commitments to place-based initiatives with backbone coordination. Rather than short grant cycles that fragment effort, Ten20 provides the patient capital and coordination support that enables systems change. The model demonstrates that philanthropic capital can operate on PSC principles—long horizons, layered support, and regenerative capacity building.

• 10-year funding commitments
• Place-based systems change focus
• Backbone organisation support