The Bridgespan Group

“Some people collaborate to learn; some people collaborate to feel like they’re part of a community; and some people collaborate, as in our case, to achieve a specific result." – Nicola Galombik, executive director of Yellowwoods Holdings, a Johannesburg-based investment firm. This quote illustrates a growing trend and recognition among many #funders across the African continent—that diverse socio-economic challenges across the region are best tackled in #collaboration with others. Our new research, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, explores the philanthropic collaborative landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa and uncovers a vibrant, growing, and unique set of over 130 collaboratives that are shifting the field across the continent. Read the full report: https://bspan.org/4cADzdr

As the The Racial Equity Institute puts it, racism is in the groundwater of America, and we have all been drinking from it for centuries. Last week, the U.S. marked Juneteenth. At Bridgespan, our efforts continue to advance #RacialEquity in all of our work- Bridgespan partner Devin Murphy has shared a few resources below. He says: "let us honor the past by taking up the challenges of the present. Our shared liberation is an unfinished project - and we all have a part to play."

Want to learn more about the revenue strategies of large African NGOs, and how they have grown despite widely prevalent funding scarcity and uncertainty? Join this free webinar. 📅 June 26, 4-5 pm SAST/ 10-11 am EST 🔗 Register: https://bspan.org/4aTSqhR

🎯 Many NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa operate in an environment of #funding scarcity and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, many are growing, innovating, are deeply involved in their communities, and are delivering powerful #impact in the continent. So, how do African NGOs grow? For our new study, Bridgespan analysed revenue data for 85 NGOs in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa with budgets of over $1 million and interviewed leaders of 33 NGOs in those countries—to understand how African NGOs acquire the funding required to grow and sustain themselves. Access the full report here: https://bspan.org/3RBSnAD 💻 Also, join our free webinar around the research on Wednesday, June 26, 4 pm SAST. Register here: https://bspan.org/4aTSqhR

#DreamingInColor returns June 27! Join host Darren Isom—and guest hosts Nithin Iyengar, Angela Maldonado, and Jasmine Reliford—for conversations with 8 brilliant leaders of color about how #mentorship and #creativity have helped them drive #impact. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts: https://lnkd.in/g3E3K3eE

Do #nonprofits really need to diversify fundraising approaches if they want to get big? Contrary to conventional wisdom, our new research suggests no.     We found that over 90% of "really big" ($50M+) US nonprofits raised the bulk of their money from a single category of funder. Increasingly, that primary source of funding is #philanthropy.     The research emphasizes 3 important practices around funding strategy for scale:      1️⃣ Focus on concentration in one or two revenue categories  2️⃣ Seek funding that is a natural match for your organization’s work  3️⃣ Build dedicated capabilities and infrastructure to tap into the one or two revenue categories you’re focusing on     What changed since we last did this funding strategy research in 2007?     The research found that philanthropy has emerged as a dominant funding category for a meaningful share of large nonprofits. And, though still underrepresented as a leadership group, 27% have a CEO or executive director who identifies as a person of color—making headway against the racial bias in philanthropy.    Read the full article to learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8q75U-C

🗨 What’s in a word? A lot, actually. One of the challenges of the #reparations movement today is a lack of understanding of what reparations truly means—its required combination of restitution and a culture of repair. Liberation Ventures offers one way of thinking about racial repair with a framework that consists of an ongoing, iterative cycle of reckoning, acknowledgment, accountability, and redress.

💬 For many #funders, the pressing question isn’t whether to pursue community-driven change (CDC), but how to proceed with an approach that works. Bridgespan research has shown that CDC helps communities strengthen their power and assets through knowledge, skills, financial resources, and the self-confidence to define and pursue their development priorities. Learn more in our new report. https://bspan.org/450jOJP

This Father's Day, our principal Jimmie Briggs and The Bridgespan Group's Nidhi Sahni share how we can encourage men to break from harmful, gendered systems and support equity across all issue areas.

Huge thank you to Jordan McCoy for your reflections and for leading May's event to celebrate US Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and to Jor Torres for moderating! It was a privilege to connect with our guests for these enriching conversations.