Collaborative philanthropy is emerging as one of the most promising innovations in modern giving.
In this episode of the Do One Better Podcast, host Alberto Lidji is joined by three leading voices in collaborative philanthropy: Alison Powell, Partner at The Bridgespan Group and leader of its Collaborative Philanthropy practice; Kimberly Dasher Tripp, Founder of Strategy for Scale; and Neha Dalal, Principal at Jasper Ridge Partners, where she advises families and foundations on strategic philanthropy and impact. Together, they explore the growing role of collaborative funds as a powerful vehicle for scaling philanthropic impact.
Drawing on their jointly authored article, Collaboratives as a Philanthropic Asset Class, the guests examine how expert-led pooled funds are reshaping the philanthropic landscape. They explain why collaborative funds—vehicles that aggregate capital from multiple donors and deploy it through a shared strategy—can help address some of philanthropy’s most persistent challenges, including fragmented giving, limited donor capacity, and the difficulty of identifying and supporting the highest-impact opportunities.
The conversation explores the analogy between collaborative funds and investment vehicles such as mutual funds, ETFs, and venture capital funds. Just as investors rely on professional fund managers and diversified portfolios, donors can leverage collaborative funds to access deep expertise, rigorous diligence, strategic coordination, and greater reach than they might achieve on their own.
Alison, Kimberly, and Neha discuss the remarkable diversity of collaborative funds operating today—from issue-focused initiatives addressing climate change, gender equity, poverty, global health, and education, to community-led funds that place decision-making power in the hands of those closest to the challenges being addressed. They also examine how collaborative funds can help donors learn while giving, build relationships with peers, and participate in communities of practice focused on shared impact goals.
The discussion addresses common misconceptions and critiques of collaborative giving, including concerns about intermediary costs, loss of donor control, and potential duplication within the philanthropic ecosystem. The guests explain why these considerations are best understood as trade-offs rather than shortcomings, and how collaborative models can often increase both efficiency and effectiveness while mobilizing significantly more capital toward urgent social and environmental challenges.
The episode also explores the infrastructure needed to support the continued growth of collaborative philanthropy, including improved discovery tools, clearer evaluation frameworks, and stronger field-building efforts that help donors identify and engage with collaborative opportunities aligned with their values and objectives.
Whether you are an experienced philanthropist, an emerging donor, a family office advisor, or simply interested in how resources can be deployed more effectively for social impact, this conversation offers a compelling perspective on why collaborative funds may become an increasingly important part of the future of philanthropy.
Key Topics Covered
- What collaborative philanthropy funds are and how they operate
- Why collaborative funds can be viewed as a philanthropic asset class
- The parallels between collaborative giving and investment fund models
- How collaborative funds increase efficiency, expertise, and scale
- The role of community leadership, proximity, and power-sharing in philanthropy
- Different collaborative fund structures, governance models, and strategies
- How donors can determine whether collaborative giving is right for them
- The importance of donor self-awareness and philanthropic strategy
- Common barriers to collaborative giving and how they can be overcome
- The infrastructure needed to strengthen the collaborative philanthropy ecosystem
- Why many practitioners see collaborative funds as a key part of philanthropy’s future
Memorable Insights
- Collaborative funds allow donors to leverage expert knowledge, shared diligence, and collective action.
- Giving through a collaborative fund does not replace direct philanthropy; it complements it.
- Many of philanthropy’s biggest challenges are too large and interconnected for any single donor to address alone.
- Collaborative funds can help move capital more quickly, strategically, and at greater scale.
- The future of philanthropy may depend on helping donors move from acting alone to acting together.
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