Growing up, my son played the trombone in his high school band. He practiced in the basement, and the sound would come wafting up the stairs. Sometimes, when he finished, he would ask, “Do you know what song I was playing?” I’d give it my best shot — but honestly, just hearing his part, it was hard to tell. To my credit, trombones are not well known for carrying the melody.
But then came game night. The marching band would take the field, and suddenly everything made sense. The flutes, the drums, the trumpets, the trombones all came together, and I instantly recognized the song he had been practicing for hours. What sounded like random notes at home became a toe-tapping tune on the field.
That is the heart of collaboration. When each person brings their unique talents and resources, and we come together with intention and coordination, something remarkable happens. It is more than working side by side. It is a shared belief in the power of working together. Collaboration requires trust, humility and a willingness to let others lead when needed. Most of the meaningful progress we have made, whether as a country or a community, has been built on collaboration.
Collaboration among nonprofits is important, but it is not enough. To create lasting change, we must look beyond the nonprofit sector. Challenges like housing, transportation and financial stability are deeply connected and rarely exist in isolation. If we want children to thrive, we must also ensure their families have access to safe housing, reliable transportation, mental health support and economic opportunity. These are not problems any one sector can solve alone.
Employers, in particular, see firsthand how these challenges affect recruitment, retention and productivity. When employees struggle with housing or transportation, it affects their ability to show up and succeed. Real progress comes when nonprofits, businesses, government, philanthropy and community members join forces to build solutions that are coordinated, inclusive and sustainable.
At United Way Fox Cities, collaboration across sectors is core to our work. We bring nonprofits, businesses, government and individuals together to align around shared goals. By leveraging the power of our community, we can reach farther and achieve more than any single organization could on its own. Our work is grounded in four impact pillars: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. Each one depends on cross-sector partnership. We like to say we are by the community and for the community. This collective approach allows us to respond to challenges with creativity and resilience. It helps us build solutions that reflect the spirit of our region and meet the needs of those who live here.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to be part of some truly powerful collaborations. They have been inspiring and transformative, and they have taught me that real partnership is rarely easy. It takes time, effort and a deep commitment to working together. It means navigating different perspectives, building trust and sometimes having hard conversations. It also means shifting from a scarcity mindset, where resources are guarded and competition is a concern, to an abundance mindset, where knowledge, resources and funding are shared to achieve more than any one organization could alone.
When organizations embrace collaboration through an abundance mindset, responsibility is shared, innovation grows and solutions become stronger and more sustainable. As the saying goes: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
One of the things that defines our region is our ability to come together when it matters most. Time and again, we prove that when challenges arise, people step up. We are known for our generosity and our willingness to roll up our sleeves to get things done. Across Northeast Wisconsin, funders are also joining forces in meaningful ways. Corporations and businesses, community and family foundations, and United Ways are all part of a regional funders’ network that meets monthly to share insights, discuss emerging needs and explore opportunities to strengthen and coordinate our work. This type of collaboration reflects the deep commitment across our region to working in partnership for the wellbeing of every community.
Whether it is cross-sector partnerships, neighbors stepping up or nonprofit organizations sharing resources, the harmony we create together is what drives real change. Just like the marching band on game night, when we come together with purpose and coordination, powerful things happen. By working in concert, we build the kind of community where everyone can thrive. Let’s keep making beautiful music together.
