Collective Impact

The Collective Impact for Toronto Youth Initiative is using a collective impact approach to address the complex problems faced by Toronto youth. Collective impact is an approach to collaboration which offers a specific structure for working together on a common issue. The elements of a collective impact approach include:

Shared Measurement System

Collecting data and measuring results consistently across all participants ensures efforts remain aligned and participants hold each other accountable.

Continuous Communication

Consistent and open communication is needed across the many players to build trust, assure mutual objectives, and create common motivation.

Common Agenda

All participants have a shared vision for change including a common understanding of the problem and a joint approach to solving it through agreed upon actions.

Mutually Reinforcing Activities

Participant activities must be differentiated while still being coordinated through a mutually reinforcing plan of action.

Backbone Organization

Creating and managing collective impact requires a separate organization(s) with staff and a specific set of skills to serve as the backbone for the entire initiative and coordinate participating organizations and agencies.^[1]

1. Hanleybrown, F., J. Kania, M. Kramer (2012). Channeling Change: Making Collective Impact Work. Stanford Social Innovation Review. Available at: http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/channeling_change_making_collective_impact_work