By Jennifer Haddow, Client Care Manager at Laridae
This Spring some of the Laridae team members had the opportunity to attend the Ontario Non-Profit Network’s (ONN) annual conference, Nonprofit Driven.
The event brought leaders and change-makers together from across the province for the first time in years. Partners who had only collaborated remotely finally met in person, colleagues swapped insights gleaned from the day’s dynamic sessions, and participants bonded over Lego models and conference bingo, sparking new connections across diverse sectors and communities.
These few days spent together felt like a breath of fresh air for a sector that has been managing a variety of challenges. Limited resources, funding constraints, and staffing shortages persist, as the demand for services continues to grow, stretching already strained organizations to their limits. At Laridae, we’ve heard these concerns echoed by hundreds of non-profit leaders over the years, and ONN’s 2023 survey results only underscore the pressures, painting a picture of a sector in need of innovative solutions. As the ONN team captured so well in their post-survey state of the sector report, “The erosion of Ontario’s critical social infrastructure is speeding up at a time when communities need it the most.”
These challenges continue to be felt strongly among non-profits across Ontario, yet, against this backdrop, one theme resonated consistently throughout the conference: the power of collective action.
In this post, I look at some of the new ways that non-profits are partnering together for common causes, and some of the surprising benefits they are seeing.
Defining collective action
So, what exactly is collective action?
The Toronto community of St. James Town, Canada’s most densely populated neighbourhood, offers a compelling definition: “an advanced form of collaboration which brings together different sectors: government leaders, funding agencies, schools, the private sector, the non-profit sector, community organizers and more.”
This collaborative model recognizes that many of our most pressing social challenges are too large and multifaceted for any single organization, or even single sector, to tackle alone. By working together, nonprofits can leverage their diverse strengths, share knowledge, and create a more significant impact than they could achieve individually. As collective action evolves and we see groups and networks launching coordinated efforts, we recognize that this approach goes beyond typical partnership to encompass:
- Centralized Infrastructure: A unified framework that supports the initiative and a clear, organized approach to guide the work.
- Common Agenda: A shared vision and goals among all participants to foster collective decision-making.
- Shared Measurement: Unified metrics to track progress and success.
- Mutually Reinforcing Activities: Coordinated actions that complement and strengthen each other.
The Benefits of Collective Action
As the team at ONN describe it, “the transformative change we advocate for requires allies across many different sectors.”
So, when these collectives come together, equipped with diverse perspectives and common aims, what can we expect?
Increased impact and reach
By pooling resources and coordinating efforts, nonprofits can amplify their impact far beyond what they could achieve individually.
Resource sharing and efficiency
Collective action turns competition into collaboration, transforming limited resources into a wealth of shared assets. This approach allows organizations to do more with less, maximizing the impact of every dollar and hour invested.
Across the two-day conference, the Laridae team heard from non-profits across sectors such as housing, mental health & addictions and community-based projects on the ways in which they hope to apply collective action to the challenges facing their communities.
Stronger voice for advocacy
When nonprofits band together to speak with one voice, decision-makers listen. Collective advocacy amplifies the whisper of one into the roar of many. United efforts can lead to more effective policy changes and increased public awareness.
The Alliance for Healthier Communities, also a conference panelist, has seen the impact of collective action on tackling large-scale, multifaceted barriers health and wellbeing in our communities. The Alliance, which brings together community governed primary health care organizations across the province, drives a comprehensive government relations strategy to raise awareness for the role of primary health care.
Enhanced problem-solving
Collective action brings together a mosaic of experiences and expertise, transforming complex challenges into opportunities for innovative solutions. The diversity of perspectives in collective efforts often leads to more creative and comprehensive solutions.
On the “Moving the Needle on Social Change by Building Unlikely Allies” panel, farmer Rav Singh recounted the ways in which the National Farmers Union – Ontario (NFU-O), for which she is the Youth Advisor, have been able to apply a collective action lens to understand the impacts of housing development and sprawling transportation infrastructure on Ontario’s agriculture.
Laridae’s Perspective
At Laridae, we see collective action as a natural extension of our capacity-building work. We don’t only aim to strengthen individual organizations; we’re also passionate about weaving a stronger fabric of shared knowledge and support across the entire nonprofit sector.
Over the last decade, and even more so in the last 3-5 years, Laridae has been walking alongside many organization’s navigating significant change. We are here to push not only our clients, but our own thinking about how best we can support nonprofits in the way that will best suit the current circumstances.
Here are some of the ways that we can help your organization leverage the benefits of collective action:
- Clarifying Impact & Aligning Mission, Vision & Values: Given the recent years, many organizations and groups of organizations are reflecting on their impact. Getting clear on your intended impact, while understanding how that interconnects with mission, vision and values is one way that we support clients with renewing their purpose and direction. For collective efforts, this process can help align partners around shared values and a common vision, creating a strong foundation for collaboration.
- Cohort-based Strategic Planning (“Strategy Academy”): Think strategic planning, but doing it alongside other like minded organizations. This cohort-based strategic planning program is unique and is ideal for small organizations looking to develop their strategic plans alongside peers. It’s a perfect opportunity to build relationships, share insights, and foster potential collaborations while receiving expert guidance.
- Management Training Program (MTP): Our cohort-based MTP brings together leaders from various organizations to develop crucial management skills. These cohorts naturally foster networks and potential partnerships, bridging the relationship gaps across various levels of leadership, and supporting the growth of collective action.
As the sector continues to evolve, the ability to collaborate effectively stands out as a powerful tool for creating lasting, meaningful change. By developing strong organizational foundations and fostering a collaborative mindset, organizations can be better positioned to overcome individual limitations, amplify their impact, and tackle the complex challenges of our time with renewed vigor and effectiveness.
Whether you’re looking to strengthen your organization’s capacity, explore new partnerships, or simply become more effective in your mission, Laridae is here to support your journey.
Book a call with the Laridae team today to explore how our services are designed to help you build the skills, strategies, and structures that can set you up for success in an increasingly interconnected nonprofit landscape.