By Michelle Shumate, Katherine R. Cooper
This report summarizes what we really know about collective impact from a variety of perspectives. The information is primarily drawn from the Collective Impact Summit, convened by the Network for Nonprofit and Social Impact at Northwestern University in November 2015. The Summit brought together thought leaders from national networks that support collective impact initiatives and scholars from business, community development, communication, public administration, education, and social work. What we learned is that collective impact is not something completely new or untried, and key lessons can be drawn from both academic research and practice. However, questions remain as to key elements of the model and its efficacy for improving educational outcomes.