At NNSI, we have an ambitious goal – a scary ambitious goal for an academic research lab. But before I get to that, let me explain. We’ve been around eight years. Eight years – we’ve published groundbreaking research on networks for social impact. A sample includes research that: shows that collaboration is a lousy way to improve nonprofit capacity,  demonstrates how to scale-up evidence-based social interventions across interorganizational systems, and 

By Brett Mayfield  The collective impact model is increasingly common in the nonprofit sphere. Governments, nonprofits, and businesses partner to best handle resources and increase their social impact as they work toward common goals. At NNSI, our research focuses on these collaborative governance models, like collective impact in the nonprofit sector. This research primarily explores why particular interorganizational networks surface in a community, which consists of individual people, organizations, and

By Katelyn Zilke Interorganizational collaboration is crucial to addressing complex social problems.  Faith-based nonprofits are an essential part of the social service landscape, often providing human services and providing connections to hard to reach populations. But previous research suggests they are less likely to collaborate than their secular counterparts. A new study from the Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact at Northwestern University sheds light on the challenges FBOs face

In 2003, the Gaffield Foundation began an initiative for environmental advocacy by founding RE-AMP. Now a network of over 130 member organizations across the Midwest, RE-AMP has grown to contribute to multiple climate victories. Such achievements include blocking new coal power plants’ development in the Midwest, halting existing coal power plants’ operations, and even passing environmental legislation in multiple states. Today, the organization focuses on short and long-term campaign goals

In the early 2000s, senior-care nonprofits in the Pittsburgh area faced one serious challenge: competing for shared resources. Recognizing this problem in 2004, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh partnered with three other organizations to apply for Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) funding. These organizations were the Jewish Association on Aging, the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh, and Jewish Family and Community Services in Pittsburgh. Together, their partnership formed AgeWell

by: Katelyn Zilke How do leaders with a great evidence-based practice take it to scale? The challenge of getting organizational leaders across an entire field to adopt innovations remains one of the most daunting management dilemmas of our time. New research from the Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact at Northwestern University unlocks why it’s just so hard to scale up and what leaders can do about it.   How does