Collaboration is at the heart of being successful in the work to preventing and ending homelessness. Funders who collaborate together and partnerships that are built on public and private relationships provide a critical backbone to support and ensure that efforts build strong and sustainable programs throughout communities can positively influence and effectively create systems change.

We encourage you to see the various ways philanthropy is partnering together and with the public sector:

Homelessness Funder Collaboratives

At Funders Together, we support the dedicated collaboration of committed foundations, United Ways, and corporate partners who work as one to prevent and end homelessness in their communities. Learn about collaboratives focused on working together and increasing the power of philanthropy in communities.

Public-Private Partnerships

No one sector alone can prevent and end homelessness: it takes the dedication and commitment from entities across the sector coming together with common goals. Read more about the importance of these partnerships and some examples from across the country. 

Completing its fifth year of funding, the Home For Good Funders Collaborative evaluation outlines lessons learned and next steps for the Los Angeles County collaborative.

Three communities across the nation – Los Angeles, Austin and Cleveland – are currently amid the nation’s first 100-Day Challenge to end youth homelessness. Through these challenges, initiated by A Way Home America (AWHA), philanthropy’s essential role as conveners in our communities and across the nation is clear. Through this work, we continue to learn much about the power of philanthropy in bringing community partners together. 

Funders come in all shapes, sizes, and capacities. How can United Ways use their influence and capabilities within the community to end homelessness? 

United Ways play a unique role in the community serving as funders and conveners, but even more, their value is highlighted through their deep relationship with local businesses through the workplace campaign fundraising model. This position provides an opportunity to play an important role in community’s efforts to prevent and end homelessness.

Just a few weeks ago, the Los Angeles chapter of Funders Together to End Homelessness held its quarterly meeting to discuss the role of advocacy in moving the needle toward ending homelessness. The big question at the meeting: What elements of a successful advocacy campaign can philanthropy support to make greater impact?

Youth homelessness is a community-wide issue that demands a community-wide response. Read about what Katie Hong of the Raikes Foundation took away from the most recent Foundations for Youth Success convening in Toronto.

Funders Together Los Angeles hosted a panel discussion to examine traditional workforce models, the current role social enterprises play in employing LA’s homeless and formerly homeless communities, and new opportunities in the field.

How does strategic philanthropy differ from non-strategic philanthropy? What is the role of collaboration? The Episcopal Health Foundation shares its thinking.

With support from Funders Together Houston, The Frees Foundation, and The Simmons Foundation, the Houston Police Department created a Homeless Outreach Team and documented their efforts in a documentary called The Shepherds in Blue.