Collective Impact is the commitment of a group of stakeholders from different sectors committed to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem, using a structured form of collaboration. The concept of collective impact hinges on the idea that in order for organizations to create lasting solutions to social problems on a large-scale, they need to coordinate their efforts and work together around a clearly defined goal.
The nonprofit sector exists to resolve social issues the government and for profit businesses are unable or unwilling to resolve. Most nonprofits are run by local citizens and the services they provide and the money they spend stay in the local economy. According to the Montana Nonprofit Association, nonprofits in Ravalli County generate $103,965,411 income annually, but are they creating solutions to social problems? I would argue that individually they are doing great thing for their individual causes but collectively they can do more.
An article in the 2011 Stanford Social Innovation Review introduced the idea of Collective Impact; one of the accepted issues Collective Impact can be successful in resolving is community development. Community development typically aims to build stronger and more resilient local communities by empowering individuals and groups of people with the skills they need to effect change within their communities.
Since 1965 the Bitterroot Resource Conservation and Development has been focused on the social issue of the conscientious development of natural and human resources, while maintaining or improving the quality of those resources and the quality of life. Since 2000 they have administered hazardous fuel reduction programs that have brought over $8 million into the economy through local timber contractors thinning forests on privately owned land in the wildland urban interface. The Bitterroot RC&D is also providing fiscal agent services to the Tourism Business Improvement District in Ravalli County which is spending in excess of $55,000 annually to improve tourism in the Bitterroot Valley. Additionally, the Bitterroot RC&D provides administrative support and umbrella 501(c)3 status to 17 organizations in the area from the Bitterroot Financial Education Coalition, Bitterroot Arts for Autism, Darby Brilliant Beginnings, the Hamilton Boxing Club, the Bitterroot National Forest and Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge Interpretive Centers, to the Ravalli County Fair Foundation and the Tree and Sky Institute. Finally, the Bitterroot RC&D runs the Healthy Kids, Healthy Forests and Neighborworks Housing Counseling programs.
A Collective Impact initiative must meet five criteria to be considered a collective impact. Those criteria are common agenda, a shared measurement system, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication and a backbone organization. The Bitterroot RC&D has been the backbone organization in constant communication with community development organizations with mutually reinforcing activities in Ravalli County since 1965. They have the skills and experience to create agreement on the ways success will be measured and reported among all participating organizations.
You can help the Bitterroot RC&D usher in Collective Impact by sharing this idea on social media or commenting on this article. Start the conversation in Ravalli County. If you shop on amazon.com you can also show your support through https://smile.amazon.com. Just shop as you normally do and Amazon donates to the Bitterroot RC&D. Thank you.
Tim Peterson
Corvallis