Philanthropists embrace collaborative funding to multiply their impact

Funder collaboratives provide philanthropists with opportunities for learning and shared costs, enabling larger and more impactful investments. City Fund leverages this model to bring innovative ideas to life, offering organizations the resources to improve local school systems and become more responsive to the communities they serve. For example: In 2021, The Mind Trust launched Indy Summer Learning Labs, a summer program focused on helping disadvantaged students catch up academically. “We knew we had something special and decided to expand it. City Fund was with us throughout that journey,” says Brandon Brown, Mind Trust CEO. Inspired by the success of Indy Summer Learning Labs, City Fund is now collaborating with school districts, nonprofits, and philanthropists nationwide to launch similar programs. “By partnering with organizations on the ground, such as The Mind Trust, we can spread these ideas to other cities and grantees, helping them achieve similar results,” says City Fund’s Chief Executive Marlon Marshall.