Published in Inside Philanthropy

By Hilary Pennington

The number and use of funder collaboratives has accelerated in the U.S. in recent years because foundations believe that working together and pooling resources allows them to achieve greater and more substantive outcomes.

A new study released this week by the Bridgespan Group (and partially funded by my organization, the Ford Foundation) provides evidence for this theory, but, notably, also surfaced some downsides for grantees. Philanthropy would do well to take their concerns to heart so these collaboratives can achieve their full potential impact.