Participatory Research Study on Donor
Funding to Networks
Collective Mind is undertaking a participatory research study that engages both networks and donors to better understand donor support to networks.
The purpose of the study is to shed light on the “what”, “why”, and “how” of donor funding for networks. In so doing, it seeks to improve donors’ funding approaches with networks and to inform networks’ fundraising approaches.
Participate in the study:
We’re currently in the data collection phase of the study, during which we will develop case studies of a diverse sample of each donors and networks using templates that capture key issues and challenges related to funding and fundraising.
We’re developing case studies with both donors and networks about their funding/fundraising strategies, approaches, and challenges.
Interested in joining the research study by contributing a case study? Contact Kerstin Tebbe at kerstin@collectivemindglobal.org.
What we will achieve:
The participatory research study will take a major step in establishing this evidence base. The data it collects and analyzes will be used to develop findings and recommendations as well as guidance for both networks and donors to improve their fundraising and funding for networks, respectively.
Using Collective Mind’s definition of networks — as organizing models that integrate people and/or organizations with common interests to achieve shared goals — the study will look inclusively at donor funding of networks across a wide range of topical areas, scale, formality, and geographies. The core research questions around which the study will focus are:
What funding do donors provide to networks? (e.g. types of funding, volume/quantity of funding, funding at different stages of a network’s evolution, etc.)
Why do donors fund networks? (e.g. donor objectives and expectations, rationale for different types of funding, anticipated outputs/outcomes/impacts, etc.)
How do donors provide funding to networks? (e.g. channels and mechanisms for giving/receiving funds, conditions or limitations of funding, etc.)
Our approach:
To answer these questions, the participatory methodology will involve both networks and donors. The study will be undertaken in three phases:
Outreach and co-design — to establish the sample of research participants and define the final research questions for the data collection. Check out what we’ve learned so far.
Data collection — to collect, triangulate, and validate data through methods that integrate participation both from donors and from networks.
Findings and guidance — to develop products from the data and its analysis (including a final report as well as guidance for each networks and funders) and to disseminate the findings broadly.
An advisory group will support the study throughout.