Presentation by Michael DiRamio and Angela Smith.

1. Introduction to Collaboration
October 22, 2008
2008 Funding Resources Face to Face Conference
Detroit, Michigan
Presented by:
Angela Smith & Michael DiRamio
City Connect Detroit
City Connect Detroit

2. Desired Outcomes
• Participants generally understand what successful
collaboration is, how it works in practice, and how it can
help address community issues.
• Participants understand some of the challenges and
opportunities created by collaborating with others.
• Participants have a sense of what they can do to be an
effective collaborator.
• Participants know where they can go for additional
information and resources.

3. Outline
1. Introductions
2. Collaboration…
defined
challenges and opportunities
examples in action
3. Mock Collaborative (interactive session)
4. Additional Ideas and Resources

4. Hello My Name is…
• Name
• Organization

5. What is Collaboration?
Working together with others to achieve a
common goal

6. Standards for Successful Collaboration1
1. An appropriate mix of members from across sectors.
2. A clear purpose and vision.
3. Clear and stated goals with timelines for achieving them.
4. A manageable and agreed upon pace of meetings.
5. Effective meeting management procedures.
6. Ongoing and frequent communications.
7. An established fundraising goal.
8. A funding plan.
9. Consideration of collaborative role and positioning in political and social climate.
10. Clear expectations for “lifespan” of collaborative.
11. Effective leadership and shared opportunities to lead.
1 Mattesich,
Paul W. Collaboration: What Makes it Work, Second Edition.
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, MN. May 2001.

7. Why Collaborate?
• Whole is greater than sum of the parts
• Leverage more funding opportunities
• Grow your relationships
• Increase your potential to create new,
more holistic solutions for the community

8. Opportunities
• What are your stories of success?

9. City Connect Detroit Collaboratives
Prisoner
Re-Entry
Growing Well
African American
Business Alliance
Motown’s Downtowns
Detroit Data
Access to Recreation Partnership
Detroit
Collaborative to End Basic Human
Homelessness Needs Detroit Food
Together & Fitness Collaborative
North End
Neighborhood Mentoring
Compassion
Collaborative Collaborative
Capital
Detroit Positive Youth
Development
Long-Term Care City of Detroit
Collaborative
African Principal
American Management Service for a Day
Cultural Organizations
Coalition City of Highland Park Wayne
County

10. Collaboratives are able to…
• Champion
• Facilitate
• Educate
• Demonstrate

11. Detroit Positive Youth Development
Collaborative
DPYD Partners
• Communities in Schools, Youth
Development Commission, Youth
Connection, Children’s Aid Society,
Mayor’s Time, Children’s Center, City
Connect Detroit, Southeastern Village,
Southwest Counseling and Development
Services

12. Detroit Positive Youth Development
Collaborative
21st Century Community Learning
Center Afterschool Programming
Partnership: Detroit Public Schools, Children’s
Aid Society, The Children’s Center,
Communities in Schools, Youth Development
Commission
Service: Delivery of Afterschool Programming to
55 Detroit Public Schools

13. Detroit Positive Youth Development
Collaborative
Social Enrichment Activities
• Martial Arts • Team Sports
• Fine Arts
• Multi-Cultural Dance
• Theater
• Basket Weaving
• Poetry
• Technology Assistance
• Crafts
• Website Development
Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities Challenges
•Trust
•Academic and Social •Contract Development
Enrichment for Students •Changes in Management
•Safety between 3:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m.
•Millions of dollars in funding for
afterschool Programs

14. Common Challenges
• Trust
• Money
• Decision-making
• Leadership
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Challenges you have experienced?

15. The JOURNEY :
Putting Collaboration into Practice
“Our learnings about
collaboration have been
Nonprofit Sector profound and offer hope for
nonprofits, businesses and other
organizations to achieve greater
impact, even in tough times.
WE ARE CONVINCED THAT
IMPROVING LIVES HINGES ON
ORGANIZATIONS SUCCESSFULLY
WORKING TOGETHER, ACROSS
Private SECTORS, AROUND COMMON
For Profit Sector Public Sector GOALS.”
-Geneva J. Williams

16. Exercise: Mock Collaborative
Groups of 4 – 6 people
Objective: Participate in a Mock Strategic Planning Session (mission
statement, goals, stakeholder selection)
Skills Practiced: Consensus Building, Facilitation, Listening,
Collaboration
Target Populations
• Youth
• Schools
• Senior Citizens
• Community and Economic Revitalization

17. Collaboration Technologies
• WIKI
• Social Networking
• List servers
• Caveat – These can enhance, not replace
traditional means (in person, phone, etc.)

19. “Spider Web” Activity
• How can you be an effective collaborator?
• What qualities strengthen capacity to
collaborate?

20. Collaboration – Tips and Takeaways
• Look around before you start a project
• Look for existing collaborations to join
• If you are starting your own collaboration:
– Focus on the issue and creating community outcomes
– Take stock and use assets…yours and others
– Be patient and willing to share (set the example)
• Complex issues -- one organization cannot do it
alone
• Collaboration builds capacity for funding

21. Additional Resources
• www.cityconnectdetroit.org
• www.afterschoolalliance.org/sustain.pdf
• Mattesich, Paul W. Collaboration: What
Makes it Work, Second Edition. Amherst
H. Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, MN. May
2001.