January+12+Convening+Synthesis

// At the end of the day, participants had a chance to reflect on key takeaways from the day’s discussions: //

 * People join networks because of their self-interest. Creating communication tools and a network space that connects to people’s work stream both enables the network to reach massive scale, and facilitates the formation of networks of networks.
 * Some funders are moving from a monolithic to a network of networks approach, i.e., rather than trying to create one big network they focus on nurturing many little ones that are based on common interests, and which overlap.
 * The posture and culture of funder is critical; we cannot underestimate how funders are viewed by members of the network that they support.
 * Some funders advocate that foundations “put a stake in the ground” and choose an issue (or locality) on which to focus, as this would make it possible for a network of funders to use their collective power to effect deep, systemic change that could move the dial on serious social issues.
 * One instance of multi-foundation collaboration began seven years ago, when funders and NGOs in the Midwest came together to move the dial on clean energy in the Midwest. They formed a network called __REAMP__, and agreed on a list of targeted levers that they wanted to pull. Over that period of time, their collective effort had real impact.
 * The question around how to reduce fragmentation is complex and worrisome. Even organizations that work in the same space have different ideas about how to address a particular problem.
 * It can be difficult to evaluate the impact of complex activities such as network weaving, civic engagement, etc. One way to make the weaving practice more concrete is to keep track of certain measures of network health / growth (e.g., number of website visits or tweets) and to keep them on a “dashboard.”
 * Building a knowledge base around core competencies is critical for networks success—but equally as important is the ability to capture / disseminate that knowledge to others who have not been engaged in the network.
 * Since people engage more with stories (vs. raw data, articles, powerpoints, etc.), it may be best to construct this knowledge in narrative form.