Grants For Sustained Collaboration

Purpose: Austin Together's core purpose is to fuel long-term, high-impact collaborations between nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies. Through phased grants, organizations are helped to thoughtfully navigate coalition-building, shared services, and mergers, with structure and support.

Focus Areas

The fund supports various types of sustained collaboration structures, including:

• Alliances & Networks
• Coalitions
• Collaboratives
• Movements
• Collective Impact Efforts
• Shared Service Agreements
• Co-Location
• Shared Staffing
• Back Office
• Fiscal Sponsorship
• Integrated Organizations
• Joint-Venture Partnerships
• Parent-Subsidiary Relationship
• Asset Transfer
• Merger & Acquisition

Key Features

• Expert Guidance: Each grantee team is paired with experienced support through the unique Guide model. Over 20 skilled volunteers have served as strategic Guides.
• Engagement & Assessment: The team meets with organizations to discuss Sustained Collaboration strategies and provides readiness assessments.
• Confidential, Early Development: For groups not ready for full grants, micro-funding, consultation, and thought partnership available.
• Resources Provided: Comprehensive Grantee Resource Manual with templates, tools, and best practices.
• Simplified Applications: Accessible applications designed to ease burdens on small and grassroots organizations.

Evidence of Impact

Extensive national research demonstrates that strategic collaboration significantly improves organizational effectiveness and community outcomes:

• 2024 national study of nearly 60 collaborative efforts found 73% produced quantifiable positive results
• Results include: greater innovation and program growth, new and diversified funding streams, improved efficiency and reduced duplication, policy achievements at state and local levels, and measurable improvements in service quality

Contact Information

• Address: 3908 Avenue B, Austin, TX 78751
• Website: www.austintogether.org
• Email: info@austintogether.org

Application Process

Detailed step-by-step application instructions were not provided in the available content. However, the funder indicates:

• Engagement First: Organizations should connect with the Austin Together team to discuss their collaborative initiatives and determine readiness for funding
• Assessment: The team conducts readiness assessments to determine fit with Austin Together's funding and support opportunities
• Early-Stage Support: For groups not ready for full grants, early-stage thought partnership and micro-funding are available as stepping stones
• Simplified Applications: Austin Together has intentionally simplified grant applications and reporting to ease burdens on small and grassroots organizations

Recommended Next Steps

1. Contact Austin Together to discuss your collaborative initiative
2. Participate in readiness assessment
3. Request information about available funding tiers and application requirements