The Opportunity Collaboration is a learning, teaching and networking platform that gathers foundation trustees/executives, social investors, entrepreneurial nonprofit leaders, policy thought leaders and social entrepreneurs. The Collaboration focus and mission is economic justice and poverty alleviation.

The experience is designed for people who are decision-makers in their organizations, ready to take action for the common good and who are open and willing to co-create solutions with others who are similarly committed. The Opportunity Collaboration sets the table, but what each individual Delegate brings to it makes the meal.

None of us can afford to waste our time. To better understand the Opportunity Collaboration’s “secret sauce” and to determine if it is a good fit for your work and mission, review Delegate Voices & Outcomes. In addition, Delegate outcomes and success factors are explored in Epicenter of Social Impact: Relationships, Ideas and Action Originating at the Opportunity Collaboration. 

Organizational Decision-Makers

Opportunity Collaboration is a peer community of seasoned institutional leaders and activists in the global poverty alleviation movement. Unfettered by superficial allegiance to titles, it is no less important that Delegates are top-level decision-makers, executives and trustees from their respective organizations. The core purpose of the event is to foster collaborative and partnering opportunities and, thus, Delegate applications are preferred from individuals with senior leadership positions and records of accomplishment.

Catalytic Leaders

Whether in the nonprofit or for-profit sectors, successful Delegates have evidenced in their actions, careers and leadership style the following characteristics and intangible qualities:

Multi-Dimensional Thinker – The causes of poverty are not compartmentalized and neither are the cures. The Collaboration depends on Delegates who can comfortably present their parochial institutional perspective and need without abandoning their ability to problem-solve in a cross-disciplinary way.

Passionate Tenacity – Because the scourge of poverty will not be ended by small-thinking or starry-eyed proclamations, the Opportunity Collaboration depends on Delegates who are tough, determined and intrepid.

Pragmatic Vision – Change agents and social entrepreneurs respect that good ideas are not enough. The Collaboration depends on Delegates who are doers, administrators, businesspeople, implementers and managers in the service of visionary ideas.

Adaptive Leadership - Leadership requires, among many skills, the capacity to listen attentively to stakeholders and to change direction when needed. The Collaboration depends on Delegates who realistically challenge assumptions and can make mid-course organizational corrections.

Team Player – Sharing recognition is a cornerstone of successful team-building, yet in the quest for donor or social investment dollars, some organizational leaders adopt a winner-take-all, ego-driven posture. The Collaboration depends on Delegates who care more about ending poverty than in claiming the credit.

Non-Ideological Activism - Altruism by itself is meaningless and ideology is not an end point. The Collaboration depends on Delegates who gravitate towards pragmatic, market-driven, evidenced-based problem-solving over windy theoretical discussions.

Apply to become an Opportunity Collaboration Delegate.