Improving Outcomes at Scale:

Lessons in Collective Impact

2

Over 40,000Non-Profits

What’s Our

Challenge?

$5Billion in

Philanthropic Resources

$591Billion in

Public Resources

Education/ Non Profit Investments

Despite these investments, we are not getting consistently better results for kids.

What’s Our

Challenge?

PROGRAM RICH, SYSTEM POOR.

What’s Our

Solution?

Collective Impact

66

Collective ImpactCollaborationConvene around

Programs/InitiativesWork Together to Move Outcomes

Prove Improve

Addition to What You Do Is What You Do

Advocate for IdeasAdvocate for What Works

77

Every Child, Cradle to Career.“ ”Common Vision & Outcomes

KindergartenReadiness

Early GradeReading

Middle GradeMath

High SchoolGraduation

College Enrollment &

Graduation

88

The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network includes 63 community partnerships

in 32 states and Washington D.C. working to improve education success for every

child. Together, the Network impacts over 6.5 million students nationwide.

99

Dallas, TX

Does it Work?

9

Kindergarten Readiness | Early Grade Reading | Middle Grade Math | Postsecondary Enrollment

Early Grade Reading | HS Graduation| Postsecondary Enrollment | Postsecondary Completion

HS Graduation| Postsecondary Enrollment | Postsecondary Completion

Early Grade Reading | Postsecondary Completion

“Most people spend more time and energy trying to go around problems than trying to solve them.”

Henry Ford

1111

Four Critical Lessons: Expediting Progress Locally

• Culture of Continuous Improvement: “Data is a flashlight, not a hammer.”

• Aligned Investment: Incenting Data-Driven Action

• Structured Action: Working Together is a Science

• Collective Impact Depends on Individual and Organizational Action

1212

The Primary Driver: Data and How We Use It

Reporting and AccountabilityUsing data to report to funders and the community

Evaluation

Using qualitative and quantitative data to assert value

ContinuousImprovementUsing data to implement differently “Learning fast to implement well”Small wins generate momentum and test innovationsVisibility

Demographics is not Destiny: Huge Dispersion in Dallas County 3rd Grade Reading Achievement

Pct

. O

f Stu

dents

Pass

ing

Pct. Free and Reduced Lunch

50% Achievement Gap in Outcomes

15% Achievemen

tGap

How Do We Learn What is Happening Up Here?

And Spread Those Practices to These Schools in Our Own Backyard?

1414

Four Critical Lessons: Expediting Progress Locally

• Culture of Continuous Improvement: “Data is a flashlight, not a hammer.”

• Aligned Investment: Incenting Data-Driven Action

• Structured Action: Working Together is a Science

• Collective Impact Depends on Individual and Organizational Action

1616

Four Critical Lessons: Expediting Progress Locally

• Culture of Continuous Improvement: “Data is a flashlight, not a hammer.”

• Aligned Investment: Incenting Data-Driven Action

• Structured Action: Working Together is a Science

• Collective Impact Depends on Individual and Organizational Action

17© StriveTogether 2015 17© StriveTogether 2015

Accountability Structure

IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR ALL KIDS, CRADLE TO CAREER.

Leadership Table

Impa

ct &

Barr

iers

Impa

ct &

Barr

iers

Polic

y &

Reso

urce

s

Polic

y &

Reso

urce

s

CRADLE TO CAREER PARTNERSHIP

BUILDING IMPACT

A P

artnership is in the System

s Change G

ateway

and sees indicators improving.

Proof Point

GATEWAYS:

Exploring Emerging Sustaining Systems Change

Pillar 1: Shared Community

Vision

•Geographic Scope•Leadership Table•Vision/ Mission•Key Messaging

• Baseline Report

• Roles/ Responsibilities

• Annual Progress Report

• Consistent Messaging

• Shared Accountability

• Withstand Leadership Change

Pillar 2: Evidence Based Decision

Making• Outcomes • Indicators

• Baseline Data Collection

• Disaggregated Data

• Indicator Refinement

• Connection of Academic & Non Academic Data

• Timely Data Sharing for Continuous Improvement

Pillar 3: Collaborative

Action

• Continuous Improvement Commitment

• Collaborative Action Networks

• Action to Move Outcomes

• Opportunities & Barriers Addressed

• Spread What Works For Children and Youth

Pillar 4: Investment & Sustainability

• Anchor Entity/ Backbone Functions

• Funder Engagement

• Management Capacity

• Financial Support

• Community Mobilization

• Aligned Resources • Advocacy

• Policy Changes• Multiyear Funding

Commitment

Abbreviated Theory of Action

1919

Four Critical Lessons: Expediting Progress Locally

• Culture of Continuous Improvement: “Data is a flashlight, not a hammer.”

• Aligned Investment: Incenting Data-Driven Action

• Structured Action: Working Together is a Science

• Collective Impact Depends on Individual and Organizational Action

2020

Individually

Organizationally

Collectively

Individual leadership team members build awareness of the work and align where possible throughout the community

Organizations represented on theleadership table align work to partnershipoutcomes, commit to using data andidentify best practices

Leadership table works together to drive systems change by mobilizing thecommunity and championing advocacyto support evidence based change

Collective Impact Irony

2121

Bright Spots

• Seeding Success (Memphis) Memphis Athletic Ministries

• Spartanburg Academic Movement Junior Charity League

• Thriving Together (Phoenix) Pastor Elementary School, Roosevelt District

• Partnership for Children (San Diego) United Way of San Diego

“Process is the new program.”

Ben Hecht, Living Cities

23

24