The power of community collaboration

The power of community collaboration

As the leader of Collaboratory, a regional community foundation, I’m often asked about what a community foundation does. My answer is always the same: the work is in the process. It is the “how” donors, nonprofit partners, residents, and other stakeholders come together to create the change they envision.

Community foundations have a vital role that cannot be served by other nonprofit organizations. Cross-sector collaboration is where the power of a community foundation comes in: building partnerships, alliances and coordination among the entire spectrum of community service organizations and donors. It is only through such combined efforts that sustained change can happen.

Too often, we don’t realize the power of coming together because it’s human nature to stay in our comfortable “we’ve always done it this way” mindset. So, we stay fixed in our own lanes. Yes, they are important lanes. But siloed efforts don’t allow us to see the big picture of how the challenges we face are all interconnected and must be solved in a more comprehensive way at a systems level. What do I mean by systems level? At its most basic, it’s the “how” we all work together. The system is, essentially, a set of relationships.

BELAMARICH

As a community foundation with nearly 50 years of service to our five-county region — Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte and Collier — Collaboratory has learned that even with the dedicated work so many in Southwest Florida do each day, a single, siloed organization working alone cannot solve the complex challenges we face.

Collaboratory is committed to bringing our community together to solve our region’s major social problems by 2040. Yes, it’s a big idea, but it’s a big idea with tangible steps we are implementing to make measurable progress across the social issues that matter to you.

We share resources and information that help move our community to action in a different, more effective way. In fiscal year 2023, for example, Collaboratory provided 700 hours in capacity-building with training and resources for regional partners. Additionally, in fiscal year 2023, we distributed $10.3 million in grants, raised more than $5 million for Hurricane Ian recovery, and — thanks to our scholarship fundholders — awarded $1.1 million in scholarships to 164 student and adult learners across Southwest Florida.

Given that we don’t champion one single cause, but all of them, we can bring all our goals and objectives together to ensure that we are attacking the root causes of our major challenges and making lasting, measurable change for generations to come.

We now have three thriving, data driven coalitions that are changing systems-level outcomes: FutureMakers, Home, and Health & Wellness. Together, they comprise more than 750 individuals and organizations across the region working toward shared goals around education and workforce development, attainable housing and transportation, and length of life and quality of life indicators.

FutureMakers, a coalition of partners working to transform the region’s education and workforce system, was established with a goal of ensuring that 55% of Southwest Florida adults aged 25-64 have an education beyond high school by 2025. As a result of this collective effort, FutureMakers has seen an increase of more than 55,000 new credentials to date and is determined to achieve its goal.

When it comes to regional housing and health issues, according to The Florida Gap Map, 58% of residents in Fort Myers alone are housing burdened. And in Immokalee, more than 22% of the population reported over 14 poor mental health days this past year, keeping them home from their jobs. Building on FutureMaker’s proven coalition model, Collaboratory and our community partners are working to tackle these sectors’ challenges.

While it has been deeply inspiring to watch individuals improve their lives throughout my career as a mental health professional, there has been nothing more powerful than partnering with those across Southwest Florida to bring about long-term change to address such issues. It’s the most rewarding journey of my professional career. This is the purpose of a community foundation. This is the power of collaboration.

I firmly believe that if our minds can believe it and our hearts can achieve it, we can create the Southwest Florida to which we all aspire. Please join us as we come together to build a legacy of positive change through actionable, data driven approaches.

We invite you to help secure the promise of a flourishing future for our children and grandchildren. We can do this. Together.

To learn more and get involved, please visit collaboratory.org/connect. Or, feel free to contact me anytime at 239-274- 5900. ¦

The post The power of community collaboration first appeared on Fort Myers Florida Weekly .