High performing nonprofits know and use effectively their relationships with other organizations in order to achieve their goals. Networks are structures that have the potential to effect greater change than a single organization working on its own. High performing organizations understand this and collaborate with other organizations to provide better programs and services, and to be more effective at their work.
A 2014 survey of Hawaii board members asked what their organizations needed to do to remain relevant and vital in coming years—the #1 response was that they needed to get better at encouraging collaboration and collective approaches to problem-solving. Leadership needs to be able to work collaboratively both inside and outside their organizations to effectively address social change.