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A collection of easy-to-use resources for social changemakers and network-builders
Social entrepreneurs worldwide are organizing strategic networks to help address complex challenges. These networks offer key advantages over conventional, centralized organizations, including the ability to accelerate change by aligning and activating large numbers of people.
That's why, together with Network Impact, we created the Network Know-How Guides, a collection of six resources with accompanying worksheets that help changemakers build diverse, healthy, impactful and sustainable networks.
Each Guide includes answers to common network-building questions, outlines real-world examples of how networks have tackled their growth and evolution and offers self-guided activities to help organizers focus their network strategy.
Quote from Network Know-How Guide User
Learning that there is a true science behind networks, rather than just a ‘gut feeling’ was eye-opening. Developing a plan to build a network-centric approach was pivotal for us. We are seeing that it is a far better way to build connections and collaborations.
Proven Success
The Network-Know How Guides served as the basis for the curriculum used by Network Incubator, a former Schusterman Family Philanthropies initiative led by ROI Community and Network Impact. For three years, Network Incubator supported and grew social-impact networks led by members of ROI Community and other leaders.
While the Guides were tailored to the needs of the program’s participants, the insights within them draw on Network Impact’s extensive experience working with networks representing a diverse array of populations and groups around the world and were developed in collaboration with ROI Community, which employs network theory to activate leaders to create positive impact in their communities.
Realizing that this information could be helpful to other network builders, we spoke with the network leaders that were part of the Incubator to find out what was most helpful and what could be augmented to create a toolkit of Network Know-How Guides for network builders around the world.
ABOUT ROI COMMUNITY
ROI Community is a global network that connects and mobilizes innovative Jewish and Israeli changemakers to address complex challenges in Jewish communities, Israel and the world.
THESE GUIDES ARE FOR:
Social Entrepreneurs
working with others to create and implement an important change agenda
Members of Collective Efforts
exploring how to maintain and evolve their network to reach shared goals
Funders of Social Good Initiatives
committed to investing in leaders and sustainable frameworks to maximize impact
Nonprofit Leaders
learning about diverse models for creating change and building partnerships
What's Inside
Here’s some of what you’ll find inside the Guides, which can be used as a series or as individual resources:
- A glossary of key network-building terms
- A self-assessment to determine which Guides will be most helpful to your network
- Answers to common network-building questions
- Examples of how real-world networks have tackled their own network-building challenges
- Worksheets with self-guided activities to help organizers focus their network strategy
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDES
1. Starter Guide
Learn core network concepts to help you get the most out of the Network Know-How Guides.
2. Clarifying Purpose and Value
Refine your vision to reflect network members’ priorities.
3. Monitoring Your Network's Health
Make informed decisions about what your network needs to succeed.
4. Sustainability
Secure material resources while engaging, aligning and generating value for members.
5. Fostering Engagement
Encourage member engagement, cultivate leadership and determine network governance.
6. Mapping Your Network
Analyze patterns of connectivity, information flows and knowledge gaps to build and strengthen connections.
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