​​Community Quarterback

Lead applicant organization with resources and capacity to lead ENOUGH activities, including managing grant funds and coordinating partners

Report | Building Strong, Sustainable Backbone Leadership

Through extensive interviews with leaders in the field about their experiences and reflections on the demands of their positions, this field study fills a gap in information about, and understanding of, what backbone leaders need in terms of competencies and skills as well as supports to effectively carry out these pivotal roles.

Framework | Purpose Built Communities Theory of Action

The Purpose Built Theory of Change integrates key elements from our 'Theory of Impact' and 'Where We Thrive' strategies.

Video | The Community Quarterback in the Purpose Built Model

This video summarizes why the community quarterback is an essential part of a holistic neighborhood revitalization effort. Community quarterbacks convene partners and resources, and they ensure that neighborhood residents are centered in setting the strategy to bring the community’s vision to life. 

Toolkit | Purpose Built Where We Thrive Toolkit: Communicating about Resident-Centered Neighborhood Transformation

This toolkit includes a summary of the narrative shift that is needed to prompt more productive public thinking and attitudes, an overview of the framing strategy to help communicators get started right away (see ‘5 Framing Recommendations’), annotated examples of the framing strategy in action. 

Toolkit | Purpose Built Communities Progression Matrix

This self-assessment tool allows communities to evaluate their baseline status, set goals, and monitor progress towards interim benchmarks in multiple areas that impact neighborhood transformation and collaborative action aligned with the Purpose Built Communities model.

Guide | How Backbone Organizations Build Civic Infrastructure for Stronger Communities

This article explores how backbone organizations, like those in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, play a crucial role in building and strengthening civic infrastructure across the United States, fostering relationships, collaboration, and data sharing to empower communities.This article explores how backbone organizations, like those in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, play a crucial role in building and strengthening civic infrastructure across the United States, fostering relationships, collaboration, and data sharing to empower communities.

Guide | A Funder’s Perspective: The Promise of Collective Impact

This article discusses the transformative potential of collective impact models in philanthropy, as exemplified by the Daniels Fund's strategic shift towards community-wide solutions in addressing complex social issues like homelessness and education across Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah.

Framework | Story-Based Strategy 101

This two-page document provides an overview of story-based strategy, walking you through the steps of analysis and strategic work that will sharpen the impact of your narrative interventions!This two-page document provides an overview of story-based strategy, walking you through the steps of analysis and strategic work that will sharpen the impact of your narrative interventions!

Guide | Conceptualizing Capacity Building

This article helps clarify and define the types, levels, stages and outcomes of capacity building. 

Podcast | Collective Impact Forum: What Makes an Effective Backbone Leader

Hear from Tauheedah Jackson, Judy Touzin, and Rob Watson from the Harvard EdRedesign Lab to learn about essential backbone leadership competencies, and how these abilities can be spread across multiple team members to better support the work.

Guide | Backbone Starter Guide

This summary of resources from FSG and the Collective Impact Forum focuses on the role and structure of the backbone organization. 

Video | How to Embed Clear Roles and Responsibilities across Your Collective Impact Governance

In this virtual office hour, FSG and the Collective Impact Forum answer questions about how to establish and maintain role clarity within a collective impact initiative and how to structure a collective impact effort’s governance.In this virtual office hour, FSG and the Collective Impact Forum answer questions about how to establish and maintain role clarity within a collective impact initiative and how to structure a collective impact effort’s governance.