Coalitions Over Competition

Read time: 3 min

👋🏾 Hey! I’m Sid and this is The Philanthropy Futurist, a weekly advice column preparing you for the future of the nonprofit sector. Each Friday, I tackle reader questions about measuring impact, driving growth, and managing your nonprofit.

This Week’s Newsletter at a glance:

• Coalitions Over Competition

• Philanthropy News From This Week

• Sid’s Book Recommendation

Coalitions Over Competition

In the Nonprofit sector, orgs can sometimes see one another as rivals.

Competing for grants, competing for visibility, competing for the same donors. BUT… what if the real way to stand out wasn’t by outpacing others, but instead by standing together?

Word around the sector is… funders don’t want multiple organizations coming to them with the same request. Instead, they want to know how orgs (plural) will… pool resources, align strategies, and amplify impact at scale.

Meaning, they want more collaboration and less silos.

When Nonprofits insist on operating independently, everyone lowkey loses.

Because… communities get fragmented services, teams get burned out, and opportunities for greater impact slip through the cracks.

Trust me, I get it. Sometimes operating independently makes total sense. No one’s saying you have to collaborate all the time. But we can’t ignore the clear benefits of partnership… especially when our ultimate goal is to serve the mission we claim to believe in.

When organizations work side by side, something powerful happens.

They’re able to expand reach, share expertise, and present a united front to funders who are eager to back scalable, collaborative solutions.

Of course, collaboration takes intention. It requires setting aside ego and leaning into trust. But the payoff is worth it: stronger proposals, deeper community impact, and a reputation for being a team player in a sector that desperately needs more unity.

If you’re a Nonprofit leader, here are a few places to start:

• Identify Natural Allies: Look for orgs supporting a similar community or cause and start a conversation about shared goals

• Build Trust Before The Ask: Don’t wait until a grant deadline, instead lay the foundation with relationships sooner than later

• Lead With Impact, Not Ownership: Shift the focus from “our program” to “our collective results”

Coalitions over competition isn’t just a nice idea, it’s the future of how Nonprofits will thrive. The power is in our hands, and it starts with the choice to collaborate.

Until next week y’all! ✌🏾

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Philanthropy News From This Week

• GitLab Foundation invites applications for AI for Economic Opportunity Fund

• Global demand for charitable services is increasing, Report finds

• Nonprofits using AI need funding to scale new tech, Report finds

• Nonprofits Are Embracing AI, but Many Struggle to Find Funding

Sid’s Book Recommendation

Each week, I recommend a book or film that has impacted my life in a positive way. My recommendation this week is:

Strategic Alliances by Steve Steinhilber

This book provides a practical framework for businesses to create and sustain successful strategic partnerships in today’s global environment. The author explains why alliances are essential for innovation, growth, and differentiation. Learn more.

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