A New Philanthropy Co-Lab Puts Connection on the Agenda

On October 21, ICONIQ Impact announced the Boys & Men Co-Lab, which aims to mobilize $30 million for 18 organizations working across community, fatherhood, and education. The announcement says grantees will receive unrestricted, three-year funding, with particular interest in person-to-person connection. (ICONIQ Impact announcement)

The promising choice here is not only funding collaboration, but giving organizations room to decide where resources are needed. Still, a shared mission is only a beginning. The harder test is whether funders keep listening to the organizations and communities involved—and make it easy to raise concerns or change course.

What kind of feedback agreement helps a partnership stay accountable without taking ownership away from the people doing the work?