Collective Impact

Collaborative giving has surged over the past 10 years.

On Saturday, January 25, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) students and staff participated in the National Day of Service to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and commitment to civic action. When volunteers set off to their service locations, to nonprofit organizations they may have never encountered otherwise, two compelling questions emerged: “What impact will we have today?” and “What impact will this service have on me?” A Warm Welcome at Gilda’s Club Like most volunteers that day, we had no personal encounter with Gilda’s Club before signing up with GVSU. As we pulled into the long driveway, we had a feeling this volunteer experience was going to be different – in a good way. The front door opened before we could even knock, and we were greeted by Denise Hillen, the organization’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable Volunteer Coordinator who had only been with the Glida’s Club for six weeks. For her ease and grace, it felt as though she had been working there for six years – due to her prior experience in volunteer coordination, she possessed a remarkable ability to make people feel welcome. Denise explained the importance of volunteers in this way: Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids could not fulfill our mission and vision of being able to provide free emotional help support to anyone navigating a cancer or grief journey, without the volunteers who work alongside the staff every day. Volunteers help with everything from making the meals for supper together to being the first welcoming face you see when entering the clubhouse. Walking into Gilda’s Club, we immediately felt a sense of home—a warm, welcoming atmosphere akin to arriving at a family gathering. In the words of Hemingway, it was “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” filled with comfortable furniture, embodying the organization’s mission of providing emotional and…

The Center for High Impact Philanthropy’s annual giving toolkit provides individual donors and professional grantmakers with actionable guidance for high impact giving year-round. We include a practical guide on what high…

When planning their gifts, people often consider their passions, current events, recommendations from friends and family, or well-known organizations. It is another step to think about how donations support under-resourced…

Collaborative funds represent a dynamic and growing force in philanthropy. They are a philanthropic space that brings together diverse stakeholders to address systemic challenges. Unlike traditional funding models, collaborative funds…