Reimagining a Regional Collaborative for Economic Justice
Opportunity
In the wake of COVID-19, new participatory research, and a renewed focus on racial justice, the Collaborative paused its operations to reassess its role, at a critical inflection point for the Collaborative and its long term impact.
The organization faced a critical question: Whether its existing funding collaborative model could effectively support economic justice goals in a rapidly shifting ecosystem.
Our Approach
We partnered with the Collaborative to clarify its future direction, assess its role within the broader ecosystem, and design a model aligned with long-term systems change.
Our work focused on:
- Clarifying strategic direction and purpose
- Understanding ecosystem dynamics and stakeholder perspectives
- Designing a structure capable of advancing economic justice at scale
What We Did
Strategic Direction & Alignment
- Facilitated a comprehensive process to realign mission, vision, and values
- Supported leadership and governance bodies in defining a renewed strategic direction
System & Stakeholder Insight
- Designed and conducted interviews across 15 stakeholder groups
- Synthesized cross-sector insights spanning workforce, labor, and human services
- Benchmarked national models to identify opportunities for innovation
Organizational & Structural Design
- Designed and supported the development of governance and decision-making structures
- Identified shifts needed to move beyond transactional grantmaking
Ecosystem & Strategy Development
- Co-created an economic justice, oriented model for future impact
- Supported narrative development to reposition the Collaborative within the field
What Changed
The Collaborative established a clearer role within a broader economic justice ecosystem Leadership aligned around a renewed mission, vision, and strategic direction
A new model was defined to guide future grantmaking and systems-level impact
The organization shifted from a transactional funding approach toward a more strategic, systems-oriented role
Key Deliverables
Thematic analysis of stakeholder insights Interim and final strategic findings
Revised mission, vision, values, and impact framework Strategy blueprint supporting a redesigned Collaborative model