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

1. Networks Practitioners Convening July 17th, 2013 – David and Lucille Packard Foundation Heather McLeod Grant, McLeod Grant Advisors Gigi Barsoum, Barsoum Policy Consulting

2. Agenda 9:30Mingle 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

3. Goals Build shared understanding and clarity around language and framing: networks, collective impact, collaboration, movements, coalitions, campaigns, etc. Explore specific network building strategies, tactics, and lessons learned to date, from a practitioner perspective. Provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning on approaches and challenges to network weaving/ building. Identify next steps and whether there’s appetite to have an on-going community of practice on this topic.

4. Agenda 9:30Mingle 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

5. About Our Network

6. About Our Network Focus Of Network

7. About Our Network

8. About Our Network

9. About Our Network Challenges

10. About Our Network

11. Agenda 9:30Mingle 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

12. Consulting Network Formation Research This Presentation Draws on Many Sources, including Monitor Institute Network of Network Funders

13. Definitions of Network, Collaborate and Collective Impact 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. 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

14. Definitions of Campaigns, Coalitions and Movement Building 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. 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.

15. We are Moving from an “Organization” World, to a Networked World Organization-centric model Network-centric model • Decentralized, collaborative • Connecting is speeding up • Open and transparent, porous • Effectiveness is equated with mobilization, alignment • Centralized, hierarchical • Connecting takes time • Closed and proprietary • Effectiveness is equated with longevity

16. Some Common Types of Networks in the Room • 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

17. Agenda 9:30Mingle 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

18. Stages of Network Lifecycle Adapted from the work of iScale and June Holley & Valdis Krebs

19. 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

20. Network Evolution Discussion Questions • How do you know if a network approach is appropriate or needed? Are there indicators of readiness? • 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? • How do you support network development? Does the approach vary with the developmental stage of the network?

21. Agenda 9:30Mingle 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

22. Diagnostic Tool: Characteristics of Healthy Networks Membership / Participation • Trust, engagement • Defining of network boundaries (who is “in”?) • Shared leadership Leadership • Governance by group • Openness and transparency Governance • Clarity of purpose • Value creation/ outcomes Purpose • Balance online and in-person • Space for convening Strategy and Structure • Shared measurement • Feedback loops Assessment Communications & Technology • Strategic use of IT • Ample communication channels • Resourced at network level Resource Management Helpful Sources: M. Kearns and K. Showalter; J. Holley and V. Krebs; P. Plastrik and M. Taylor; J. W. Skillern; C. Shirky

23. 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 23

24. Systemic Alignment = Accelerated Social Impact = Policy Success = Policy in Play Source: The ReAmp Network; “Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System”, by Heather McLeod Grant & Monitor Institute

25. 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

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

27. ReAmp Network Infrastructure NATL. ENVIRONMENTAL ORGS. Media Center The Commons (Online) CAUCUS:Natl. Environmental Organizations WORKING GROUP: Transpor-tation WORKING GROUP: Found-ations ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS ENVIRONMENTALFUNDERS WORKING GROUP: Clean Energy WORKING GROUP: Coal CAUCUS:Faith-Based Community CAUCUS:Midwest Governors Association • Steering Committee ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS • Synergy Committee ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES WORKING GROUP: Global Warming Solutions WORKING GROUP: Energy Efficiency NONPROFITS TRACKING M.G.A. POLICY ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS CAUCUS: Rural CAUCUS: Youth ENVIRONMENTALNONPROFITS In-Person Meetings Learning & Progress Reports RURALCOMMUNTYORGANIZATIONS Global Warming Strategic Action Fund YOUTH ORGS. Source: The ReAmp Network; “Transformer: How to Build a Network to Change a System”, by Heather McLeod Grant & Monitor Institute

28. Many Leadership Roles in the Network • Links to participants • Brings in resources & facilitators • Ensures flow of information ORGANIZER/ ENTREPRENEUR • Provides initial resources for organizing the network • Invests in network capacity building LEAD FUNDER CONSULTANTS/ FACILITATORS • Deepen connections between participants • Organize the group • Assist with sense-making & provide the right context for solution-making NETWORK COORDINATOR & STAFF • Facilitates use of technology • Organizes convenings • Weaves the network • Steering Committee • Working Group leaders • Leadership can emerge anywhere ELECTED MEMBER LEADERSHIP 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)

30. Strive Partnership - A Cradle to Career Vision for Education Source: Strive Partnership

31. A Selection of Strive’s 300 Partnership Organizations Source: Strive Partnership

32. Framework for Building a Cradle to Career Civic Infrastructure Source: Strive Partnership

33. Strive Community Report Card - Excerpt Source: Strive Partnership

34. Five Elements of Collective Impact Common Agenda Shared Measurement Mutually Reinforcing Activities Continuous Communication Backbone Organizations Source: FSG.org

35. Strive Network Expansion Source: Strive Partnership

36. Network Structure and Governance Discussion Questions • How do you establish a network governance structure and who is involved in deciding that structure? • What factors influence the network structure? Culture? Issue/Purpose? Size? • What are the shared capacities needed for a network and how can they be fostered? • How are and what types of communication and information systems built into the structure to facilitate information flow, collaboration, sharing, learning and innovation?

37. Agenda 9:30Mingle 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

38. Appendix/ Backup Slides

39. Types of Networks and Collaboration – A Spectrum 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

40. The “Secret Sauce” of Networks & Collaboration

41. Challenges Faced by Network Leaders Unlearning past behaviors (not reverting to organizational model) Continuing to engage network participants Letting go of control, messiness of process Decision rights; interface with outside world Sharing knowledge and collective learning Identifying and measuring impact/ network “health” Learning and leveraging new technologies Source of images: Cut Throat Communications; Blog.com; Rutgers University RU FAIR; Kodaikanal International School; flickr

42. Periphery Cluster Link Node Understanding Networks: Definitions Core Hub Source: Monitor Institute; Net Gains by Plastrik and Taylor (‘06); Net Work by Anklam (‘07); Building Smart Communities by Krebs and Holley

43. Using Network Maps to Plan Development, Track Network Evolution Barr Foundation: Boston Green & Healthy Buildings Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe

44. The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2005 Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe

45. The Green and Healthy Building Network: 2007 Source: Barr Foundation “Green and Healthy Building Network Case Study” by Beth Tener, Al Neirenberg, Bruce Hoppe