January Shift Notes

Hi there,

Welcome to the very first edition of The Collective Shift newsletter! 🎉 I’m so thrilled to have you here. At The Collective Shift Co., we’re dedicated to partnering with those working tirelessly to create a better world. We work with committed social change makers, collective impact practitioners, movement leaders, social entrepreneurs, collaborative philanthropists, socially focused corporations, and impact-first investors—all united by a shared goal: to build new systems where everyone can succeed.

Our work centers on helping organizations and leaders tackle social problems at their root causes. We understand that transformative change doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s why we’re here to support you in navigating the complexities of collective impact work. Whether it’s expediting skill development for new team members, building systems to align key partners, capturing your team’s relational knowledge, or fortifying organizational culture and systems, we’re here to help you create sustainable solutions that last.

This newsletter is your space to gain insights, explore tools, and stay inspired. Together, let’s address the real challenges, go deeper than surface-level fixes, and focus on the strategies that truly move the needle. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Let’s make the shift—together. 💡

Introducing The Backbone Shift: a transformative approach designed to strengthen your organization’s core by aligning your team, systems, and strategies for maximum impact. In this 6-week Audit, we assess your organization from the inside-out. It’s all about maximizing your team’s potential so you can achieve the results you aim for externally.

The Backbone Shift Audit combines comprehensive data gathering with an analytical, systems-focused approach to help you look under the hood of your own organization and collective impact efforts. We look at four different categories internally in your organization: 

🧠 Capacity Building

💜 Organizational Development

🔗 Internal Systems

💼 Talent

Key Benefits:

• Identify Strengths and Gaps: Gain deep insights into your organization’s internal dynamics to reinforce your foundation.

• Focus Your Resources: Discover where to direct your energy for maximum impact, ensuring your team moves farther and faster together.

• Build a Lasting Impact: Create a sustainable and effective movement that stands the test of time.

By focusing on organizational culture, systems, and processes, The Backbone Shift empowers your team to navigate challenges and drive meaningful change. It’s time to strengthen your backbone and achieve the results that truly matter. For more information, visit our Work With Us page and set up a Discovery Call!

We love learning over here at The Collective Shift Co.! In each newsletter, we’ll share articles, podcast episodes, books, courses, or more, for you to learn from and engage with. If you have something that has resonated with you and would like it to be considered for ia future newsletter, just hit Reply and send it our way!

• Backbone Leadership is Different - a great article from Paul Schmitz and Dominique Samari at Collective Impact Forum, which captures the unique mindsets and skills that backbone leaders need in this hard work. 

• Join us in Collaborative Improvement Foundations! I might be biased, but this FREE, 4-session course (plus an Orientation) is one of the best out there for leaders looking to understand and deepen their skills in collaborative improvement - the process of bringing together people across organizations and sectors to improve outcomes. Register through The Training Hub, powered by StriveTogether. I’ll be your Convener! 

• Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond. I finally finished this narrative on poverty and its purposeful, manufactured nature in the US. “Upward mobility is no longer the overriding feature of the American experience. For far too many young people today, the future is fraught.” I would love to hear your thoughts! 

P.S. Interested in joining a community of fellow social changemakers in learning and growing? We’re launching a book club!! Get on the waitlist here.