We endeavor to leverage philanthropy to drive public investment
into the priorities of
the communities with whom we work.
Edge Collaborative works closely with its partners to advance their project visions
We endeavor to leverage philanthropy to drive public investment into the priorities of the communities with whom we work.
What does it mean to incubate a project?
COMMUNITY NEED
This is how a community priority becomes a reality.
Community collectively surfaces a need
Projects emerge from clearly stated priorities and needs we hear from the community – through our work with community-based organizations, public agencies, private companies or directly from residents.
We incubate projects operating across three pillars:
Workforce
How can communities re-imagine the types & quality of jobs that are available and accessible?
INCUBATION
Green Economy
How does a region advance its environmental justice and infrastructure goals towards a more inclusive economy?
Community Wealth
How do Black and brown-serving organizations build long-term wealth after being locked out of pathways to asset ownership?
Incubation
Within each of our three pillars, Edge partners with organizations to support projects using any of its four core capabilities: capital, talent, coalitions, and policy.
Fundraise at the ecosystem level, to address shared gaps across multiple organizations
Regrant to local orgs based on community priorities and project maturity
Cross-train local talent to catalyze and manage new projects
Provide capacity building for existing organizations (e.g. technical assistance providers)
Shape local implementation of state policy
Highlight policy reforms required and related opportunities for community-led projects
Amplify community voices to surface local priorities and needs
Support formation of cross-sector coalition building – including public, private and nonprofit partners
Spin-off
Our goal is to ensure that over the long-term, our partners can sustain their projects by utilizing the range of tools and resources available from the civic incubator. We consider a project a success when it spins out – and moves beyond the needs of what our team can provide. This will often entail the project resourcing that effort beyond philanthropy - from either public or private capital sources.
SPIN-OFF