{"id":43862,"date":"2025-06-23T14:27:19","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T14:27:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/?p=43862"},"modified":"2025-06-24T14:20:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T14:20:32","slug":"five-years-fueled-by-an-obsession-with-partnerships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/blog\/five-years-fueled-by-an-obsession-with-partnerships\/","title":{"rendered":"Five years fueled by an obsession with partnerships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five years ago, in the early moments of the greatest health and socio-economic crisis of our lifetimes, I got the privilege of a lifetime to follow in Ruth Shack and Javier Soto\u2019s footsteps as CEO of The Miami Foundation. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever dreams I had about doing a thoughtful listening tour or starting my tenure with a series of cocktail parties and introductory meetings was quickly thrown out the window \u2013 schools were just about to be shut down, offices were closed, and the world was in acute crisis mode.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some might have argued that it was the worst moment possible to start an important leadership role. Looking back, I couldn\u2019t be more grateful.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because the truth is, there wasn\u2019t any way to lead through that moment other than with bravery and absolute <\/span>obsession with partnerships.<\/span><\/b> (More on that in a sec.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Harnessing the power of 1,000 funds underneath our umbrella and hundreds of nonprofit partners, we dove into collaboration mode, launching a community-wide COVID recovery fund, co-creating Miami Connected<\/a> (internet for all youth), Arts Access<\/a> (arts in all schools), a proactive disaster resilience<\/a> strategy, and half a dozen other collaborations to address the most pressing challenges facing our region. What started as a new collective impact department ultimately evolved into a way of being for our Foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Five years in, it\u2019s clear as day what’s fueled our growth: it\u2019s all about <\/span>the way we collaborate\u2014<\/strong><\/span><\/b>and we\u2019re just getting started.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope you’ll join\u00a0us in our obsession with <\/span>strategic collaboration. <\/span><\/i>And since I hear that our version of collaboration looks and feels a little different, I\u2019ll break down what I mean when I say those words:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Puts others first.<\/span><\/b> Every person is the most important person in the room. Lift others\u00a0up\u00a0before lifting yourself. Go last. Obsess with the experience of your partners, and make sure everyone feels valued, seen, and heard.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Play the long game.<\/span><\/b> Treat partners as <\/span>forever <\/span><\/i>partners, not transactional partners. Impact happens at the speed of trust. Invest not just in what we can do together today, but what we might accomplish together tomorrow. Grantees will become funders. Employees will become bosses. May we all live long lives and work together again a million times. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Help unusual partners play together<\/span><\/b>. When unexpected coalitions form, magic happens. Difference is unavoidable. Division is a choice. Be a unifier, see the good in everyone, and build spaces where everyone can contribute as the best versions of themselves. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Prioritize joy.<\/span><\/b> Yes, really. People perform differently when they are in a state of joy. Optimism is a choice. Joy <\/span>attracts<\/span> opportunities and serves as fuel to keep going, even when the work is hard.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Go big. <\/span><\/b>We seek to collaborate on things that would not be possible to accomplish alone. We set goals beyond the immediate year ahead of us \u2013 because when you dream big, your actions follow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I’m pretty sure this <\/span>gospel of collaboration<\/span><\/i> is the reason for every good thing that has come our way. And as I stare ahead at the next five years, I\u2019m reflecting deeply on all the people who have co-created with us.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The 1,000+ families who shape their philanthropic legacies with us \u2014 instead of operating in silos, they stand together to fuel a massive hub for generosity in Miami. I\u2019m inspired by the way we give back both individually and as a network for good.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The 900+ nonprofit partners who build with us, who gather around tables with us to find commonalities, shared goals, and gaps in services together, and who leap across boundaries to solve big community needs together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The tens of thousands of dreamers who step forward with us whenever Miami needs us…<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This month\u00a0alone<\/span><\/i> we saw… <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The 150+ <\/span>Miami Fellows<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Saltwater Fellows<\/span><\/a> who have graduated from our leadership programs, who stand at the helm of so many vital community institutions and collaborate deeply with each other to address the most important issues of our generation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n