Network Support Network of Network Funders November 10, 2010

1. Beijing Cambridge Chicago Delhi Dubai Hong Kong Johannesburg London Los Angeles Madrid Manila Moscow Network Support Network of Network Funders November 10, 2010 Mumbai Munich New York Palo Alto Paris San Francisco São Paulo Seoul Shanghai Singapore Tokyo Toronto Zurich

2. Nicholas Christakis: The hidden influence of social networks http://blog.ted.com/2010/05/10/the_hidden_infl/

3. Share a phrase that captures your top of mind thoughts about networks (and/or support of networks) Go ‘around the clock’

4. Today’s Conversation Communities of Practice Our Domain: Why Are You Embracing Network Approaches? Our Practice: • What Do You Want to Learn About? • Insights From Phase I Learning Trajectory and Our Next Meeting

5. Communities of Practice COMMUNITY NNF PRACTICE DOMAIN Source: Wegner, McDermott, and Synder, Cultivating Communities of Practice (2002)

6. 7 Principles for Cultivating CoPs • Design for evolution • Open a dialogue between inside and outside perspectives • Invite different levels of participation • Develop both public and private spaces • Focus on value • Combine familiarity and excitement • Create a rhythm for the community Source: Wegner, McDermott, and Synder, Cultivating Communities of Practice (2002)

7. Network Impact: Our Domain COMMUNITY Our CoP PRACTICE DOMAIN Source: Wegner, McDermott, and Synder, Cultivating Communities of Practice (2002)

8. Why Are You Embracing Network Approaches? • Networks for connectivity. Greater connectivity leads to more effective individual and collective work, and therefore better field-level outcomes. • Networks for field-level impact. Building and supporting action-oriented networks can drive progress toward targeted outcomes. • Networks for movement building. Networks are a vehicle for grass roots engagement and for connecting a range of activities and actors working toward a shared vision of longer-term transformation. • Networks as an enabling infrastructure for social change. Networks are an important lever for social change. Increased network effectiveness helps build capacity for social change. • Networks as a way of working. Use of social media and embracing web 2.0 principles (e.g. decentralization, transparency) make it possible to tap networks inside and outside of an organization, resulting in better information flows, access to expertise, and field-level impact.

9. Network Impact: Our Practice COMMUNITY NNF PRACTICE DOMAIN Source: Wegner, McDermott, and Synder, Cultivating Communities of Practice (2002)

10. How Can Networks Be Supported? Our Practice: Insights from NNF Phase I • Knit the Network • Network weaving • On-line connectivity • In-person connectivity • Know the Network • Mapping—of social nets, issues, funds • Transform or Transition the Network • Evaluation and network strategy development • Organize the Network • Net strategy development • Core funding • Innovation funds • Evaluation / capacity for ongoing learning • Grow the Network • Net strategy development • Core funding • Innovation funds • Evaluation / capacity for ongoing learning Sources: Adapted from iScale, with input from the work of June Holley and Valdis Krebs

11. Our Practice: Insights from NNF Phase I • Considerations when supporting networks: • Consider why you and the type of funding you do might be well suited—or not—to network creation and engagement. • Seek out a neutral and/or trusted entity who can receive and distribute funds (when there is no existing hub). • Be aware of your impact—the impact of power and money—on the network. • Recognize that not all networks need to be sustained. Temporary collaborations can have large impact. • Recognize that not all networks need to scale. Small can be good, though isolation is not.

13. What Do You Want to Learn About?You = Everyone

14. What Do You Want to Learn About?You = Network Support Cohort

15. Network Impact: Learning Trajectory Phase One Insights Defining Our Domain & Practice Network Lifecycle TOOLS: Net Health & Program Strategy Beth Kanter webinar (Dec 8) April 5-6 Convening Network Leadership (with LLC) Creating Network Space Complexity Science Webinar (TBD) Network Weaving (with Roberto Cremonini) iScale webinar (TBD) For details see: http://networksguide.wikispaces.com/Network+Impact+Action+Learning+Cohort

16. Plan for Next Week’s Meeting: Nov 16th 11am PT • Topic: Network Lifecycle, Support and Foundation Role • What’s the pre-work? • Think about a network you are supporting and/or participating in: • Reflect on where the network is at in its lifecycle. (Look at lifecycle model posted on the wiki.) • What supports have you been providing the network? What else might you consider? • What role(s) are you playing in the network? Has this changed over time? Are there additional roles or ways of interacting the network you might consider?(Look at list of typical network leadership roles on the wiki) • Where to do it? • http://networksguide.wikispaces.com/17-Nov%2C+11am+PST+Issue+Meeting • How to get help? • Contact Kelly (Kelly_Spann@monitor.com) or Diana (Diana_Scearce@monitor.com)

17. http://networksguide.wikispaces.com/17-Nov+Issue+Meeting