place-based impact
IN practice
Helping funders bridge the gap between theory and reality, and inspire more changemakers to put place-based strategies into practice.
The place you live determines your proximity to opportunity.
What are place-based strategies?
AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?
What are Place-based impact strategies and why do they matter?
“Place-based impact strategies” is a wonky term, but the concept is simple. Data clearly shows that the place you live determines your proximity to opportunity, health, and the conditions for upward mobility. Certain places are teeming with opportunity, others are not. As Blue Meridian Partners put it: “Too often, geography is destiny.”
What are Place-based impact strategies and why do they matter?
Geographic inequality has widened over the past four decades; the gap in incomes between richer and poorer places has grown. So, if you are trying to help close the opportunity gap in America and beyond, it makes sense to focus your funding and skills on places where opportunity is needed most.
What are Place-based impact strategies and why do they matter?
Rather than adopting a blanket national strategy with varying results, place-based philanthropy creates a pathway to deeper, generational impact by responding to the specific environmental factors of an area and letting local community needs guide the strategy.
What are Place-based impact strategies and why do they matter?
The starting point for every meaningful place-based approach must be authentic community engagement. Every community has unique needs, and community engagement should be a thoughtful and well-researched process. For funders seeking guidance on how to put this into action, we recommend referring to the Tamarack Institute Tool: The Engagement Continuum and using the Collective Impact Forum’s guidance on how to meaningfully pursue collective impact with community partners.
What are Place-based impact strategies and why do they matter?
Place-based impact strategies come to life in different ways. Some take shape as more formal partnerships underpinned by a “backbone” team on the ground. Others will be more informal and organic. Whatever your approach, it is valuable to review the guidance created by exemplars in the field, such as StriveTogether and Living Cities.
What are Place-based impact strategies and why do they matter?
Your place-based approach will be unique to you as a funder and the community you serve. Funders can be at different stages of their place-based work — from corporate teams dipping their toe in, to long-term, multi-pronged philanthropic partnerships. Whatever stage you are at, place-based philanthropy creates a framework to help close the opportunity gap and create long-lasting systemic impact, by bringing a community's needs and uniqueness to the fore while taking into account the complexity of interlocking issues.
“A small cohort of “superstar” cities have primarily driven economic growth in the U.S. since the mid-2000s. Places have been left out and left behind, so there is renewed interest in undertaking strategies and approaches that can more evenly distribute prosperity across the country at the macro level and across different communities and neighborhoods at the micro level.”
Figuring out your role in the ecosystem
Understanding community needs
Identifying your place
Measuring place-based impact
Designing equitable interventions
Figuring out your role in the ecosystem
Understanding community needs
Identifying your ‘place’
Measuring place-based impact
Designing equitable interventions
Identifying your place
Identifying your place
For place-based strategies to be effective, you should be prepared to spend time and go deep with that community. Consider places that you have an authentic connection to — through history, industry, relationships or action — and in which communities have barriers to opportunity that you are able to help address.
Things to consider
As you identify your place, review these considerations to help you translate your interest in place-based principles into actionable progress.
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Articulate why you are a credible partner to this community–draw on existing roots, presence, experience and relationships in the area you’re investing in.
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Highlight any specific unaddressed needs or gaps in the community that your organization is uniquely equipped to address. Lean on your strengths and assets, ask the community if that resonates with them, and identify, together, how you can plug in and support.
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Assess how long you’ll be able to commit to working with the community and be honest and upfront about that commitment. Are you able and committed to working with the community for the long term (e.g. longer than a typical grant cycle of 1- 5 years)?
HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
"When we decided on where we show up, the primary factors were places in which we could have the most impact, where there was a receptive local government to work with, where we had strong existing relationships to get work done, and customers and partners to sustain and proliferate the work.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“We generally think about “identity” in relation to a person, forgetting that communities have identities too – and that the future prospects of a place are closely linked to its identity.”
"When we decided on where we show up, the primary factors were places in which we could have the most impact, where there was a receptive local government to work with, where we had strong existing relationships to get work done, and customers and partners to sustain and proliferate the work.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“We generally think about “identity” in relation to a person, forgetting that communities have identities too – and that the future prospects of a place are closely linked to its identity.”
"When we decided on where we show up, the primary factors were places in which we could have the most impact, where there was a receptive local government to work with, where we had strong existing relationships to get work done, and customers and partners to sustain and proliferate the work.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“We generally think about “identity” in relation to a person, forgetting that communities have identities too – and that the future prospects of a place are closely linked to its identity.”
understand community
needs
understand community
needs
As you embark on the place-based impact journey, it is vital to listen to the community and understand their needs: every community has a varied, holistic set of needs to thrive.
Imagine a dial
fanning out from the central point — the community — and pointing out to all they need to access opportunity, seize it, and pass it on to future generations: from education to employment, arts to sports, health to housing, and more.
Which pieces of the dial should you invest in? That depends on the unique strengths and resources you have to leverage: where you can commit and add the most value.
Things to consider
As you understand community needs, review these considerations to help you translate your interest in place-based principles into actionable progress.
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Invest time in connecting with community leaders and changemakers. Their insights and experiences will shape your understanding of a community’s assets and needs.
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It’s crucial that you meet a community where they are. You can do this in a number of ways, such as easing their access to engaging in program design, addressing barriers to trust, gaining a deep understanding of a community’s priorities, history and culture, etc.
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Integrate feedback loops and welcome community voices early on. Involve the community in priority setting, program design, defining success and measurement tactics, program execution, etc.
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Ensure you have an ongoing cultural understanding of the community you serve. Work with local experts, hire local talent, build relationships with community organizations, etc.
HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“We strive to meet the community where they are. We meet our clients—virtually or physically as they need—and continue to move the needle and along a continuum.”
“When we invested in the Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table in New Mexico we employed a local consultant to be our eyes and ears on the ground and ensure understanding of the landscape of assets and challenges, as well as our own our cultural sensitivity.”
“Set a diverse table and be intentional about building relationships and trust. I recently talked with a place-based collaborative addressing local health disparities that, over its couple-decade existence, has started every meeting with a meal.”
“We strive to meet the community where they are. We meet our clients—virtually or physically as they need—and continue to move the needle and along a continuum.”
“When we invested in the Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table in New Mexico we employed a local consultant to be our eyes and ears on the ground and ensure understanding of the landscape of assets and challenges, as well as our own our cultural sensitivity.”
“Set a diverse table and be intentional about building relationships and trust. I recently talked with a place-based collaborative addressing local health disparities that, over its couple-decade existence, has started every meeting with a meal.”
“We strive to meet the community where they are. We meet our clients—virtually or physically as they need—and continue to move the needle and along a continuum.”
“When we invested in the Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table in New Mexico we employed a local consultant to be our eyes and ears on the ground and ensure understanding of the landscape of assets and challenges, as well as our own our cultural sensitivity.”
“Set a diverse table and be intentional about building relationships and trust. I recently talked with a place-based collaborative addressing local health disparities that, over its couple-decade existence, has started every meeting with a meal.”
Your role in the ecosystem
Your role in the ecosystem
Before creating programs and making grants to serve key community needs, do your due diligence into who is already serving those needs. Reach out and open the pathways for collaboration and knowledge sharing with funders and nonprofits already active in that place. You will add the most value by accelerating existing efforts and filling gaps.
Community Dial
Consider the community dial for your place of focus. Who is actively serving certain needs already? Where are there needs gaps that you can fill, or partnerships you could form?
Things to consider
As you identify your role, review these considerations to help you translate your interest in place-based principles into actionable progress.
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Develop a deep understanding of existing efforts and initiatives in the community, make contact and build relationships with those organizations, and assess together how you can support their work.
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Diversify your partnerships and build connections across the aisle, with private and public sector actors, as well as from grassroots to treetops.
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Create a framework for collaboration that allows practitioners and experts to lead through their knowledge and lived experience. This looks like minimizing redundant infrastructure, limited reporting, leading with trust-based partnerships.
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Build the capacity and leadership of local partners by creating opportunities for them to share knowledge and build networks, providing coaching, and developing resources to share best practices, etc.
HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“Think about how the program or innovation will gain traction to positively impact more people over time. As a national funder, Casey appreciates and takes advantage of opportunities to join, support, and strengthen existing community-based initiatives.”
“Really make sure everyone is coming to the table as equals. A lot of times when working with other organizations, you find out that priorities are different. Spend time aligning and fully understanding the real driver behind every party’s approach. Voice it. Make sure you’re going eyes wide open in a relationship.”
“Hold more to results and less to process as funders, and understand that process could and will look different in different places.”
“Think about how the program or innovation will gain traction to positively impact more people over time. As a national funder, Casey appreciates and takes advantage of opportunities to join, support, and strengthen existing community-based initiatives.”
“Really make sure everyone is coming to the table as equals. A lot of times when working with other organizations, you find out that priorities are different. Spend time aligning and fully understanding the real driver behind every party’s approach. Voice it. Make sure you’re going eyes wide open in a relationship.”
“Hold more to results and less to process as funders, and understand that process could and will look different in different places.”
“Think about how the program or innovation will gain traction to positively impact more people over time. As a national funder, Casey appreciates and takes advantage of opportunities to join, support, and strengthen existing community-based initiatives.”
“Really make sure everyone is coming to the table as equals. A lot of times when working with other organizations, you find out that priorities are different. Spend time aligning and fully understanding the real driver behind every party’s approach. Voice it. Make sure you’re going eyes wide open in a relationship.”
“Hold more to results and less to process as funders, and understand that process could and will look different in different places.”
designing equitable interventions
designing equitable interventions
Avoid acting too fast and shoe-horning solutions into place. Make sure you have listened carefully to the community and existing partners active in that area to understand how you might plug in to address the most pressing needs. Consider how you are building agency and equity for the community into your processes, not just the outcomes you’re aiming for.
Things to consider
As you design equitable interventions, review these considerations to help you translate your interest in place-based principles into actionable progress.
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Support community members and help position them to lead and shape the work.
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Leverage, highlight, and build on skills and assets that are unique to communities.
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Create open and welcoming feedback channels to make sure your work is moving the needle on what the community needs most.
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Consider how your work will contribute to overall generational community well-being and capacity building.
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Prioritize initiatives that shift resources, economic independence, and decision-making power to the community (however small).
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Consider how your work can endure local administrative changes and cycles of investment and disinvestment.
HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“Change must be owned and led by the people who live in a community for it to be successful and sustained.”
“Convening stakeholders at the earliest stages of ideation and creating feedback loops as early as possible is key to gain critical community insight as well as to get community buy-in early on.”
"Offer opportunities that build on people’s native skills. [Don’t] push people to do something that they don’t want to aspire to. We know that our Appalachian forest is incredibly important in the climate race, we have to maintain it and the people that live here know that and want to do that."
“Change must be owned and led by the people who live in a community for it to be successful and sustained.”
“Convening stakeholders at the earliest stages of ideation and creating feedback loops as early as possible is key to gain critical community insight as well as to get community buy-in early on.”
"Offer opportunities that build on people’s native skills. [Don’t] push people to do something that they don’t want to aspire to. We know that our Appalachian forest is incredibly important in the climate race, we have to maintain it and the people that live here know that and want to do that."
“Change must be owned and led by the people who live in a community for it to be successful and sustained.”
“Convening stakeholders at the earliest stages of ideation and creating feedback loops as early as possible is key to gain critical community insight as well as to get community buy-in early on.”
"Offer opportunities that build on people’s native skills. [Don’t] push people to do something that they don’t want to aspire to. We know that our Appalachian forest is incredibly important in the climate race, we have to maintain it and the people that live here know that and want to do that."
measuring place-based impact
measuring place-based impact
The precise KPIs for any place and place-based strategy will differ depending on the community’s needs and should be defined by and with them. There are some core values that you can track to ensure that your approach as a funder is valuable and effective: Shared voice; Shared values; Shared vision.
Things to consider
As you measure impact, review these considerations to help you translate your interest in place-based principles into actionable progress.
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Make sure that your metrics reflect the community's priorities and have been co-designed with the community.
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How you are measuring success — look for long-term, generational change as well as short-term wins.
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Diversify your metrics. By integrating both qualitative and quantitative measures, you and the community are gaining a more holistic view of the success of your investment, engagement, and partnership.
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Create intentional space for testing, iteration, and evolution that involves stakeholder engagement.
HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“My passion for this work stems from wanting justice and opportunity for people — my family and friends in our hills and hollers.”
“For place-based partnerships, depth of impact may be as important or as consequential as breadth of impact. This may require a shift in language or mindset for some philanthropies, and require time and a willingness to change.”
“Funders need to recognize that the arc of impact is generational. A decade minimum should be what the private sector is thinking about.”
“Not every community is ready to take on comprehensive change, and you have to make space for mid-course corrections.”
“For place-based partnerships, depth of impact may be as important or as consequential as breadth of impact. This may require a shift in language or mindset for some philanthropies, and require time and a willingness to change.”
“Funders need to recognize that the arc of impact is generational. A decade minimum should be what the private sector is thinking about.”
“Not every community is ready to take on comprehensive change, and you have to make space for mid-course corrections.”
“For place-based partnerships, depth of impact may be as important or as consequential as breadth of impact. This may require a shift in language or mindset for some philanthropies, and require time and a willingness to change.”
“Funders need to recognize that the arc of impact is generational. A decade minimum should be what the private sector is thinking about.”
“Not every community is ready to take on comprehensive change, and you have to make space for mid-course corrections.”
