Collective Impact Forum

06/04/2026

"What happens when a key leader at a partner organization leaves?"

This is a question many collaborative leaders face. Leadership transitions can disrupt relationships, slow progress, and make it harder to sustain momentum.

In our first "Dear CIF" column where we answer community questions, Jennifer Splansky Juster shares practical advice for reducing the impact of leadership turnover and building a collaborative that is resilient through change.

Read the full column: https://collectiveimpactforum.org/blog/dear-cif-how-to-navigate-leadership-transitions-within-a-collaborative/

04/24/2026

If you are newer to collective impact work or looking to strengthen your foundation, we invite you to join our upcoming two-part online workshop series, Getting Started with Collective Impact. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/getting-started-with-collective-impact-workshop-series-registration-1987333241222?aff=oddtdtcreator

This series offers a practical introduction to the core conditions and practices that support collaborative work, along with a deeper look at the role of the backbone team and collaborative leadership.

Join All or Single Sessions: You can join both sessions with a Full Series Pass or register for the one session that best fits your needs.

🔹 Getting Started with Collective Impact Full Series Pass
June 18 & July 16, 1pm - 4pm ET ($350 for both sessions)

🔹 Session 1: Introduction to Collective Impact
June 18, 1:00 - 4:00 PM ET ($199 for single session)

🔹 Session 2: Introduction to the Backbone and Collaborative Leadership
July 16, 1:00 - 4:00 PM ET ($199 for single session)

Across these two workshops, you will explore how to build shared understanding, align partners around results, and navigate common challenges in collaborative efforts. Each session includes presentation materials and three months of access to the recording.

If you are looking for foundational resources to support collective impact work, we hope you will join us! Learn more at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/getting-started-with-collective-impact-workshop-series-registration-1987333241222?aff=oddtdtcreator

04/22/2026

We are so proud to partner with the Levitt Family Foundation on our 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit. The Levitt Family Foundation shares our belief in the power of collective action to inspire positive change. A national creative placemaking funder at the intersection of music, public space and community building, Levitt is supporting nonprofits in over 100 communities across all 50 states (plus Puerto Rico!) to present 1,000+ free outdoor concerts, fostering joy, belonging, and economic vitality. Learn more: levitt.org

THANK YOU to the Levitt Family Foundation for its support of this year's Action Summit, and helping us share that the arts are a critical factor in creating lasting community change.

04/07/2026

This is the final week to join your peers at this year's Action Summit. https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

Hundreds of backbone leaders, practitioners, and partners are already registered and will be gathering next week on April 14-16 for the virtual 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit, our biggest learning event of the year.

These changemakers are coming together to share what’s working, learn from peers, and strengthen their collaborative efforts back in their communities.

If you’ve been meaning to join, this is the final week before we begin. We’d love for you to be part of the learning!

With more than 30 workshops and sessions, you’ll leave with practical ideas and resources you can bring back to your collaborative. Register now at: https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

04/02/2026

✨ 👏 🎉 Thank you to the Levitt Family Foundation for their support of the 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit! Levitt partners with changemakers and nonprofits in towns and cities across America to create joyous, inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together of all ages and backgrounds, creating more healthy, equitable and thriving communities. Learn more: levitt.org

Want to be part of the virtual 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit this April 14-16? Register now at: https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

03/19/2026

👉 3 Reasons to Join the 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit (Plus a not-so-secret 4th!) https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

Taking place online April 14–16, the 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit brings together backbone leaders, practitioners, funders, and partners working to strengthen collaborative change in communities around the world.

Here are three reasons many collaborative leaders return to the Action Summit each year.

1. Learn practical strategies from peers from across the field

Explore 30+ breakout sessions covering critical topics to support better collaboration, including community engagement, data and learning, fundraising, advocacy, and how to ethically use AI for collective work. Sessions are designed to share real world examples and practical approaches you can apply in your own work.

If you cannot attend every session live, a majority of breakout sessions will be recorded and available for three months after the Summit. You’ll be able to watch again on your schedule. (Want to review the agenda? https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/agenda)

2. Hear inspiring Keynote Conversations

This year’s keynote stage features conversations on sparking community joy with comedian and storyteller Baratunde Thurston, Broadway superstar Jinkx Monsoon, and civic change leader Eric Liu.

3. Connect with a global community of collaborative leaders

Join hundreds of participants from across sectors who are working to build stronger partnerships and advance community change in their regions. The Summit app helps participants connect during the event and continue conversations afterward.

✨ The Not-so-secret 4th reason? There's extra savings if you join early! Early-bird registration for the Action Summit closes tomorrow, Friday, March 20. Register now to save $100 on your Summit pass. https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

We hope to see you at the Action Summit next month!

03/06/2026

How can communities build trust and belonging across lines of difference?

At the 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit, you can join, “Belonging as the Bedrock: How Communities are Strengthened Utilizing the Welcoming Standard.”

In this interactive online workshop on April 14, Briana L. Broberg (Welcoming America), Rachel Joy (City of Champaign), and Thomas Yu (City of Champaign) will share how communities can strengthen connection and social cohesion during times of change.

Using the Welcoming Standard framework, you’ll explore practical ways to build trust between long-time residents and newcomers, strengthen welcoming infrastructure, and foster belonging for all.

We hope you join us April 14–16 to learn alongside collaborative leaders from around the world. https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

02/11/2026

We are excited to announce the session lineup for the 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit! https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/agenda

You can now check out over 30 sessions that will be featured at this spring's online Action Summit. Each session will elevate valuable insights and lessons learned about how to effectively collaborate to address today's pressing challenges.

Join us online this April 14-16, 2026, and be part of our largest learning event of the year!

***Take Advantage of the Summit Early-Bird Rate***

You can secure your spot now at an discounted price! Register by March 13 with our Early Bird Rate and save a total of $100 off the full Summit rate. https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407

Please find below an at-a-glance version of the Summit agenda. Click on the title of any session to review additional details, including the session description and learning objectives. Click on the detailed agenda tab for comprehensive view of sessions. All session times are listed in US Eastern Da...

01/09/2026

When collaborative partners come together to tackle complex challenges, learning must be part of the work itself and not an afterthought. https://collectiveimpactforum.org/resource/how-does-emergent-learning-help-collaboratives-learn-and-adapt/

In this new podcast episode, we talk with Lauren Gase of Mindful Metrics and Lori Fuller of Fuller Impact about Emergent Learning and how the principles and practices that are part of Emergent Learning can support collaboratives that are navigating uncertainty, complexity, and change.

This discussion offers practical insights for anyone working in collective impact, backbone roles, or cross-sector partnerships, including:

🔹 Why learning is most powerful when it is ongoing, shared, and grounded in real work rather than reports or one-time reflections

🔹 How clearly shared goals and thinking help partners remain aligned while allowing space to test different approaches

🔹 How simple practices like Before and After Action Reviews and Emergent Learning Tables can help groups turn experience into insight and action

🔹 How Emergent Learning can help collaboratives work through tensions, adapt to changing conditions, and even recognize when collaboration may not be the right path forward

If you are looking for practical ways to support learning, adaptation, and progress in collaborative work, we invite you to listen to the full episode.

Ways to listen: You can listen to the Collective Impact Forum podcast on our site or on your preferred podcast streaming service, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. A full transcript is also available on our site: https://collectiveimpactforum.org/resource/how-does-emergent-learning-help-collaboratives-learn-and-adapt/

12/22/2025

As many teams look ahead to 2026, we know planning time and resources can be limited. To make our upcoming programs more accessible, we are offering special discounts through the end of 2025 for all 2026 workshops and convenings.

Each opportunity is designed to provide practical tools, peer learning, and space to reflect on the challenges of real-world systems change work.

We welcome you to review our upcoming programming below, and if you register by December 31, you can take advantage of some extra year-end savings.

💡 The Pursuit of Systems Change: Balancing Today's Needs and Long Term Impact
📅 February 19, 2026 / 1pm - 4pm ET / Online
✨ 2025-only Early-bird rate: $149 (Full Rate: $199)
👉 Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-pursuit-of-systems-change-balancing-todays-needs-and-long-term-impact-registration-1977309432741?aff=oddtdtcreator

💡Backbone Leaders Learning Lab
📅February 25 - April 8, 2026 / Online
✨2025-only Early-bird rate: $1,800 (Full Rate: $2,000)
👉 Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/backbone-leaders-learning-lab-registration-1977989034448?aff=oddtdtcreator

***Learning Lab registration includes free access to the March 17-18 Facilitating Collaborative Meetings workshop and the 2026 Collective Impact Action Summit, nearly $700 in added learning value.***

💡Facilitating Collaborative Meetings
📅March 17-18, 2026 / 1pm - 4pm ET each day / Online
✨2025-only Early-bird rate: $199 (Full rate: $249)
👉 Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/facilitating-collaborative-meetings-registration-1977529106792?aff=oddtdtcreator

💡2026 Collective Impact Action Summit
📅April 14 - 16, 2026 / Online
✨2025-only Early-bird rate: $324 (Full rate: $449)
👉 Register: https://collectiveimpactforum.swoogo.com/ciactionsummit26/9927407