Connecting Networks - A Journey of Experimentation

Connecting Networks
A Journey of Experimentation

We believe that networks are an asset and can be a powerful tool for creating
impact – especially for today’s philanthropic institutions.
Over the course of many years, our institutions have developed strong relationships with large numbers
of individuals and organizations dedicated to making a positive impact. We have provided resources, built
capacity, advocated for causes, facilitated connections and offered a wide range of other types of support.
Yet few, if any of us, have found ways to further empower these people, their ideas and their organizations
beyond the direct, time-bound support of our established programs.
In seeking approaches that are more collaborative, creative and continuous to increase the impact of our
work, we are constantly confronted with questions such as: How can we best meet the challenges of a
dynamic global society? How do we use the complexity of human nature to unite people behind a common
goal? What is the role of our foundation in taking on this challenge ... and what could be our role?
We believe that many of our colleagues in the philanthropic field share these questions and are ready to
start seeking solutions - together. Thus in 2017, we created Connecting Networks - a shared journey where
we learn from each other as well as with each other through consultations, workshops and facilitated peer
exchange. In 2018, we brought together representatives from 20 institutions to meet, exchange, strategize
and connect - and not just as professionals, but as people. We put emphasis on building bonds that will
endure beyond the program as a first step in bringing the field of philanthropy together. This is part of our
greater ambition, because we are convinced that connecting our alumni, partners, employees and peers in a
wider network will not only be an exceptional opportunity, it will be a critical amplifier for our future impact.
By instilling a shared sense of belonging and facilitating direct connections between these thousands of individuals
and institutions, we will drive a significant increase in our networks’ resources, engagements and ideas
dedicated to making a positive difference in the world.
In the following pages, we would like to share with you our journey so far. Although much has been achieved,
there is still much that lies ahead - to try, to share and to discover. We are happy to have you join us!
Darius Polok
Managing Director, iac Berlin
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Connecting Networks 2018
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A Journey of Experimentation
The first year of Connecting Networks combined engaging workshops and collaborative online-learning with
bespoke coaching. Over the course of eight months, we worked together with our organizations to jointly
identify opportunities and pathways to become network-builders, design new tools and techniques required
for the task, and supported participants in developing the skills and leadership necessary to drive the desired
change and innovation within their respective institutions.
1:1 Consultations
April - May 2018
Kick-off Workshop
June 2018
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Peer Learning
June - November 2018
1:1 Transition Planning
November - December 2018
Strategy Retreat
November 2018
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Creating a Roadmap
In designing Connecting Networks, we started with an open ear. During initial one-on-one consultations and
a kick-off workshop, we asked key questions to get the conversation started about the involved organizations,
their networks and each individual’s personal ambitions and challenges in building networks. Only then
did we hone the overall objectives for the year and design a program that not only allowed us to develop
network-building strategies, but also to create a shared journey that would break down barriers and allow us
to truly connect and start creating impact together.
Questions about ...
... your organization:
• Has your organization already partnered with,
funded or founded any network organizations?
• How is your network connected to or embedded
in your organization?
• How would you describe the organizational
context in which you are operating (e.g. enabling
factors, critical dependencies, etc.)?
... your network:
• What type of network are you building / are you
planning to build?
• When would your network be ‘successful’? How
are you measuring its impact?
• How would you assess your network today:
What would you consider its greatest strengths?
Where do you see a need for change or improvement?
... your participation:
• What key objectives and plans do you have for your network?
• What questions do you have about the development of your network?
What challenges keep you awake at night?
• What would you be interested in contributing to Connecting Networks
(i.e. skills, tools, experiences)?
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Objectives for ...
Individuals
Organizations
Field
• As individuals, we seek to become
skilled and connected
network-builders.
• We are developing new competencies
and deepening relevant
knowledge.
• We are establishing connections
with leading experts, partners
and peers.
• As organizations, we strive to
shape an impactful network of
members and/or partners.
• We are developing a network
strategy - from ambition to
operations.
• We are experimenting to gain
initial experience and knowledge.
• As a philanthropic field, we aim
to create connections across and
beyond institutional networks.
• We are identifying shared approaches
and ambitions among
our organizations.
• We are exploring joint initiatives
and collaborations with partners.
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The Participants
Atlantic Institute, Auswärtiges Amt, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, Calouste Goulbenkian Foundation,
Carpathian Foundation, DOEN Foundation, ERSTE Foundation, European Cultural Foundation, Fondazione
Cariplo, GIZ-GLAC, Helga Breuninger Foundation, Hertie Stiftung, Lankelly Chase, Mozaik Foundation,
Potanin Foundation, Rhodes Trust, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stiftung Mercator, United World Colleges.
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Starting Points
Thirty-five people from 20 organizations across Europe, with various networks at different stages of development.
Even at the first glance, it was clear that the participants were as diverse as the institutions they
represented. However, it’s what they shared that truly brought them together: curiosity, a desire to learn and
a commitment to creating networks for positive impact.
Photo: Manuel Frauendorf
Nicole Traxler
“I hope participating in Connecting Networks helps
me define a strategy for our foundation’s network
for social innovators. As my previous work with
networks was led by instinct, I hope to gain tools
and strategies to build networks in a conscious
manner.”
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ERSTE Foundation
Alessandro Rubini
Cariplo Foundation
“Through Connecting Networks, we would like to
find potential partners for setting up new programs
and sharing practices, as well as finding
inspiration in the experiences and successes of
others’ activities.”

Penelope Brook
Atlantic Institute
“We are just at the beginning of co-creating a
community that will, we hope, be a lively one of
shared identity and purpose, and of action. We
have a lot to learn about how to provide a light
touch that supports such a community, and helping
it thrive by connecting it to other, similar ones.”
Vesna Bajsanski-Agic
Mozaik Foundation
“I am curious about what makes people stay connected
with certain people, purposes, networks,
or communities. How have others made it work
and how can we interconnect our networks? I’m
looking forward to new friends, new knowledge
and new experiences.”
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Welcome to the Network Lab!
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The first workshop of Connecting Networks 2018 was centered around
the Network Lab - a series of hands-on activities to aid in strategy
development.
Based on the individual consultations and an analysis of participants’
cases, we developed a tool called the Strategy Builder. Here, we identified
three key phases in a network’s development, a set of six strategic
domains and more than thirty specific instances where critical choices
and shifts could be made.
During the Network Lab, participants worked with the Strategy Builder
to envision the potential of their networks, make critical choices, ask
the right questions, gather ideas and set up first experiments.
Impact
Time
Vision
Model Experience Structure Learning Transition
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After first defining the potential and vision for their networks, participants
began examining the question: “What could we do to bring our
network closer to its highest potential and what are key shifts needed
to make this happen?” They then worked through a list of curated
“choices” broken down according to the current phase of their network:
“Envision” for those just starting a network; “Enable” for existing
networks; “Evolve” for networks ready for the next step. This process
included defining choices for the future and/or identifying those choices
made in the past.
The key question and the identified choices were then used as a catalyst
to brainstorm ideas for initial “experiments” - interventions or activities
that could be completed in the short-term (10 days) and long-term
(150 days) - in order to gain experience and test assumptions so that
participants could better fine-tune their strategies.
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We opened up the Network Lab with a dialogue among participants
to find out their views on the potential of networks to achieve positive
impact and how this approach could be used or supported by foundations.
The conversation evolved to include topics such as: the glue that
holds networks together, the forces that motivate members into action
and the greater impact that can be achieved together.
We then gave participants time and space to reflect, apply these experiences
and insights to the networks that they are striving to build and
ask themselves, “What is the highest potential of my network?”
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How might we
best encourage
members in our network
to take more ownership
and motivate
peers?
Stop creating everything
ourselves. Start inquiring into
ideas to co-create activities with
members.
How might we best
decentralize power
and responsibility in our
network?
Instead of having members
be connected only via us as a
central hub, members become
directly connected with some
acting as key nodes for others.
How might we
create a common
sense of identity and
purpose in a new
network?
How might
we motivate our
community to adopt a
more “networked” way
of thinking about
impact?
Rather than just observing what
impact is being created,
we incentivize certain, more
collaborative forms of impact.
Shift focus from making contacts
to relationship-building based on
interest and engagement in our
key issues.
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Short-Term
Do a mapping of key individuals
and identify their motivations.
Long-Term
Begin a process of co-creation
with key members to define a
structure and paths for
engagement.
Create new roles for regional
coordinators.
Host workshop with regional
coordinators to shape plans
together.
Survey partnership needs and
potential among grantees.
Redesign specific grants to
encourage collaboration.
Use existing conferences and
events to organize informal
meet-ups.
Develop an academy / fellowship
program to encourage
shared experiences and
capacity-building.
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Peer Exchange & Support
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After working through the strategy building process, the participants
could see the questions and challenges facing them more clearly. And
who better to support, challenge and enrich their plans, then a community
of peers with a wide range of perspectives and experience?
This is why peer exchange became a central element of Connecting
Networks. Not only did the Network Lab focus very much on a collaborative
learning process, after the participants went home and began to
put their plans into action, we used online tools and facilitated calls to
promote exchange and strengthen their support network.
Five months after the first workshop, everyone came back together
for a strategy retreat - a space for sharing successes and challenges,
seeking out answers, support and inspiration, and preparing themselves
to move forward with renewed clarity.
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“We have lots of active members,
but we want to give them
a stronger sense of ownership
to initiate their own network
activities.”
“We ran a global campaign to
identify and inspire champions.
Could this be something
for you?”
“I have a lot of experience with
community-building (and some
failures) to share with you from
my network!”
“We have an online community
and are trying to grow
membership among social
entrepreneurs.”
“I have a contact at a
foundation that funds accelerators.
She could make some
recommentations.”
“We have experience in
engaging alumni on our online
platform. Some of our challenges
could be relevant for you.”
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Reflections
Now that the first year of Connecting Networks has
come to a close, we asked everyone to tell a story
from their own experience that demonstrated a
major shift or change that they had experienced
as a result of the program. These stories were then
shared in our larger group, allowing us to discover
the common themes of our journey.
Together with the evaluation, they also helped to
give us a direction for the future - a sense of the
potential that lies ahead. And the best part, is that
now we are making that journey together.
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Luis Placido dos Santos
Gulbenkian Foundation
“At the first Connecting Networks workshop, I
learned about the Bosch Foundation’s experiences
in starting up the Bosch Alumni Network.
I brought this case - with all its successes and
challenges - back to my organization and shared
it with my colleagues. I found it to be a powerful
tool in changing our mindset about networks and
getting support internally for the network that
we’re trying to build.
It was really helpful being able to use a real life
example to show that even if you create a network
structure, you can’t just expect members
to be pro-actively engaged on their own. We, as
an organization, must invest in the network and
its members, and maintain a constant balance of
give-and-take on both sides.”
Daniel Lovelock
United World Colleges (UWC)
“In a talk on ‘Leadership in Networks’, Darius
Polok touched on the three purposes or types of
networks: belonging, transactional and transformational.
While the UWC’s network is well-established
in the first two, the idea of a transformational
network was new and seemed to be the next
step in achieving our goals.
Shifting to a transformational view of the network
meant rethinking our strategic approach. We
realized that this would require a major shift - from
giving the community our agenda, to listening to
what they wanted and creating ways for them to
realize it. In our first experiences with this new approach,
we discovered that the network members
themselves also want to be a transformational
network, and now it’s just a question of how that
could work.”
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Evan Gilroy
Helga Breuninger Foundation
“Connecting Places is a global project of the
Helga Breuninger Foundation aimed at building
a network that supports the idea and practice of
place-making. Our initial goals included: making
connections among place-makers, finding their
shared values, building transformational relationships
and finding continuity amongst their activities
across the globe.
The shared journey that we went on to explore
these goals helped us to focus the conversation
on our visions for transformational impact.
However the real value that emerged, was that it
strengthened our members’ sense of belonging
and purpose. This in turn helped all of us to better
articulate the value of our network and goals to
ourselves and others.”
Ilan Vuddamalay
C&A Foundation
“At the beginning of 2018, C&A Foundation
decided that we wanted to proactively connect
our partners and other players in our field into a
network to make fashion a force for good, particularly
in the field of circular fashion. Initially, we
were planning to take a more conventional, topdown
approach, however after the first Connecting
Networks modules I realized how powerful
and dynamic networks can be and that they must
be allowed to develop at their own pace. This
required us as a foundation to focus on how we
should facilitate and participate in, rather than
lead this network.
The insights gained through Connecting Networks
is being leveraged to support my colleagues
across the foundation, who are also working
on network-building in different contexts.”
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Evaluation
The first year of Connecting Networks was an important learning experience, not only in developing individuals
and organizations, but also for finding the best ways to support a more connected philanthropic field.
The insights we have gathered from this experience will help to guide us as we move forward.
Our Experience
What is one word that captures how you are feeling
as the first Connecting Networks experience comes
to an end?
Our Progress
Looking back at the combined objectives for the
program, how important were each of them for you
and how well were your expectations met?
Comfortably uncertain
Focused
Flow
Motivated
Pressure
Breakthrough
Experiments
Generous
Supported
Cautious
Clarity
Opportunity
Ready
Determined
Ideas
Inspired
Energized
A bit overwhelmed
Restrategize
Reassurance
Expectations
Below Met Exceeded
Low
Importance
Moderate
1
2
6
5
3
High
4
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1
2
3
4
5
6
We start building trust and connect as peers.
We envision the opportunities and potential of networks.
We deepen our network-building knowledge, skills and practices.
We take time and space to work on our strategies - together.
We are inspired and feel ready to take next steps.
We look at joint opportunities and synergies for our networks.

Our Community
Looking at your interactions with each other, how
would you rate the following statements:
Our Way Forward
From the rich feedback gathered in this first year,
the following three points will help to guide us as we
continue on with Connecting Networks:
I found it easy to
approach others and
ask them for help.
I felt comfortable
discussing personal
challenges and ideas
with others.
I gained new insights
and learned a lot
from others.
5%
10%
45% 50%
45%
55%
50%
40%
• We will move from a defined program to a
curated community, deepening the peerbased
approach with new learning formats
and more opportunities for co-hosting with
members.
• We will open this community up and invite
other foundations and their network-builders
to join and shape Connecting Networks together
with current members.
I explored joint initiatives
and possible
collaborations with
others.
65%
30% 5%
25% 50% 75% 100%
• We will put more energy into “matching”
members who have similar cases and creating
spaces to identify potential opportunities
and synergies for different networks to work
together.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly disagree
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Connecting Networks in 2019
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The Journey Ahead
Although the first year of Connecting Networks
has come to a close, the journey continues. In the
months to come, we strive to transform Connecting
Networks from a program into a community - one
that is continuously active, jointly curated and open
to join.
We aim to create, advance and test tools to build
and connect networks, while sharing our reflections,
experiences and insights with the wider field. We
have activities planned - ranging from a strategy
retreat and learning labs, to group calls and an
ever-growing resource center - to bring together
current members, potential members, the interested
and the curious.
There is much to do,
and we are ready to do it - together!
1:1 Consultations
Three personal calls with the iac
team to help you make the most
out of your membership, advance
your network strategy and support
you in your role as a network-builder.
Strategy Retreat
An annual three-day meeting to
jointly advance strategies, share
learnings, expand skills and solve
challenges with peers. Designed
with time and space to be inspired,
build connections and spark
new developments together with
other members.
June 11-13 th 2019
Paretz/Berlin, Germany
To find out how you can get involved,
please contact:
Working Calls
Bi-weekly, hosted calls for members
with formats ranging from
case clinics to strategy webinars
and virtual conferences.
Armin Pialek: armin.pialek@iac-berlin.org
Hinnerk Hansen: hinnerk.hansen@iac-berlin.org
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Strategy Builder
A customized planning tool and
evolving case library to help you
define the focus and identify the
scope of your network strategy.
Peer Connections
Facilitated introductions and
supported partnering between
members with common interests,
complementary activities or
shared ambitions.
Online Community
A members-only group on
LinkedIn to enable direct connections
and ongoing exchange.
Resource Site
Curated literature, tools and perspectives
on network-building in
the philanthropic field.
Learning Labs
Two-day meetings to explore and
advance dialogue around key
themes together with interested
members.
Proposed topics for 2019/2020:
• “The Value of Connections”:
Various paths to network-building
and proof of impact.
• “Power & Trust”: The unique role
of and challenges for foundations
as builders of networks.
• “A Narrative for Networks”: How
to keep networks in the strategic
discourse in philanthropy.
• “Better Together”: Strategic
partnerships and organizational
networks.
• “System Change”: New perspectives
on framing the design and
use of networks.
Rolling schedule starting summer/
fall 2019 with date, place and host
to be announced a minimum of
three months in advance.
… and a joint effort to inspire network-building
in the philanthropic field!
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Imprint
The International Alumni Center (iac Berlin) is a Think & Do Tank for networks with social impact founded
by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. It advises foundations and other non-profit organizations in their alumni
work, helps with practical solutions in the design of impact-oriented networks and initiates new forms of
collaboration.
To find out more about our work, please visit: www.iac-berlin.org.
Published by the iac Berlin
Linienstraße 65a
10119 Berlin, Germany
HRB 759544
Managing Director: Darius Polok
Content: Hinnerk Hansen & Stephanie Don
Text & Design: Stephanie Don
Illustrations: Abdul Dube
Photographs: Uwe Steckhan*
(*except where otherwise noted)
Copyright: iac Berlin
This brochure was developed as part of Connecting
Networks, a program of the iac Berlin with support
from the Robert Bosch Stiftung.
Connecting Networks Team and Advisors:
Abdul Dube, Visual Confidence
Alexis Eremia, freims: contemporary consulting
Anna Birney, Forum for the Future
Armin Pialek, iac Berlin
Darius Polok, iac Berlin
Hinnerk Hansen, iac Berlin
Ian Bird, Community Foundations of Canada
Itai Gruenbaum, freims: contemporary consulting
Stephanie Don, Hat Rack Communications
Tim Draimen, McConnell Foundation
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“You need an unshakable belief in the
extraordinary potential of every human being.
Your job is then to find the key
to unlock that potential.”
Royston Maldoom
Global Choreographer, Dance Educator
& Keynote Speaker at Connecting Networks
Connecting Networks is a program
of the iac Berlin with support from
the Robert Bosch Stiftung.