During the Southeastern Council of Foundations (SECF) Annual Meeting last week, The Patterson Foundation collaborated with other foundations and entities by crafting or presenting six sessions at the conference.

We call this “building connective tissue.” By collaborating and leveraging resources with other foundations and entities, we are on the path to uplifting and creating new realities.

So how did TPF accomplish this?

Through associations and relationships with:

• Share the Care: Through our partnership with Share the Care, an Orlando-based nonprofit providing services and support to family caregivers, we created the session,”Dimensions in Caregiving.” Share the Care helps educate and inform  of their options and resources as they care for loved ones. Our relationship with Share the Care supports the vision of our Caregiver Connect Initiative, an initiative that evolved after exploring dementia from a medical and educational standpoint. The initiative began to focus on the caregiver and connecting them to the resources and support available to them.

• The Declaration Initiative (TDI): Dr. Claire Gaudiani and Linetta Gilbert, two philanthropy thought leaders, shared TDI’s goal of moving people out of poverty by 2026 (the 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence) and making the pursuit of happiness a reality for all Americans. We further discuss our connection with them in this post.

• National Council on Aging (NCOA): Brian Hofland, director of strategic development, presented the session, “The Age Wave and Your Community” during a Grantmakers in Aging (GIA) EngAGEment Initiative luncheon. The session brought attention to the economic realities of the growing elderly demographic in our communities as a resource and a challenge. The Patterson Foundation’s Aging with Dignity and Independence Initiative (ADI) has sought to discover what the day-to-day experience of older adults was like in Sarasota County and the challenges they face. In a county where 32 percent of its residents are over age 65, it puts Sarasota in a very unique position to identify and test creative approaches to enhance aging.

• Foellinger Foundation, The Forbes Funds, The Lodestar Foundation and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta: The Patterson Foundation co-created and moderated the session “Creating New Paradigms: Five+ Foundations Collaborate.” These foundations discussed their experiences, training and wisdom regarding strategic restructuring and collaboration. TPF’s Collaborative Restructuring Initiative (CRI) provides facilitation resources and encourages collaboration beyond the singular entities through alliances, collaborations, partnerships, networks and mergers. This leads to more effective and efficient impact for communities.

Taking these innovative steps enables The Patterson Foundation to lead the way in demonstrating how to engage and build connective tissue through associations for increased impact and mission fulfillment.

How do you, as an individual or entity, build connective tissue? What types of collaborations do you engage in to maximize your impact?