Toolkit user guide

The three stages

 

  • The toolkit is structured around the key steps and phases of a new funder collaboration - laying the foundations, building the structure, stewarding the collaboration. Choose the stage that’s most relevant to you and jump in
     
  • It’s not intended as a linear guide to follow strictly - many of the tools will be more relevant at different stages depending on your collaboration, and you may wish to revisit some of them from time to time to review and update. That said, for those wanting a place to start, the toolkit can function as a rough pathway for the kind of questions and activities that are needed at different stages.
     
  • Complete the tools together. While each tool is designed to stand alone, many build on one another and will complement each other when used together.
     
  • Each tool contains a set of icons that let you know roughly how long each activity should take in total, how many people it’s designed for, and which other tools it works particularly well with.
     
  • Make a copy of each tool so you can edit and work in it directly.
     
  • An important note: Please view this toolkit as a ‘beta version’ or work in progress. Although it’s based on research and best-practice and adapted from existing tools, the specific tools included in this toolkit, and their combination, have not yet been tested. We’d love to hear your feedback when you use it - please let us know how it goes and how we can improve it by clicking here. 

 

Example user pathways through the toolkit

A | TWO FUNDERS EXPLORING WHETHER STARTING A NEW COLLABORATION IS WORTH IT B | A GROUP OF FUNDERS IN THE PROCESS OF CO-DESIGNING A COLLABORATION. C | AN ESTABLISHED FUNDER COLLABORATION THAT WANTS TO REFRESH WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

  • A group of funders use the toolkit to support them to develop and agree a set of shared goals, processes, and behaviours. They decide to focus on the tools in the ‘building’ phase, using The Meeting Planner (Tool 6) as a rough guide to the key conversations they will have together.
     

  • They start with The Articulator (Tool 3) to make sure there was a shared view of the challenge and case for collaboration, before using The Purpose Crafter (Tool 7) to co-design a shared purpose and The Role Definer (Tool 8) to develop clear roles for each partner.
     

  • They then use the answers generated from previous discussions to develop a set of clear terms of reference using The Collaboration Charter (Tool 9).

  • A funder collaboration use the toolkit to review how they are  doing and identify areas where they could improve.

  • They start with The Health Check (Tool 11) and use one of their regular meetings together to do a group-self assessment of how the collaboration was doing and identify a number of areas for improvement.
     

  • Based on this, they decide to work together to review and refresh their shared goals using The Purpose Crafter (Tool 7), and update their collaboration agreement using Tool 9. At the same time, they use The Landscape Mapper (Tool 4) to identify new partners to bring in new and diverse voices and perspectives to their group.

Tool no.

Tool name

Purpose

1

The Pathfinder

To map out the key steps you need to take.

2

The Navigator

To find out what other funders are working on.

3

The Articulator

To articulate the case for collaboration.

4

The Landscape Mapper

To develop a list of potential funder partners.

5

The Engagement Pack

To reach out beyond existing relationships and networks.

6

The Meeting Planner

To develop a shared purpose for your collaboration.

7

The Purpose Crafter

To define roles and responsibilities within a collaborative effort.

8

The Role Definer

To plan and convene your first group meetings together.

9

The Collaboration Charter

To develop a bespoke agreement for your collaboration.

10

The Top Tips

To learn from funders about how to manage collaborations well.

11

The Health Check

To assess how you are doing as a collaboration.

12

The Library

To find additional resources and reading about best practice.