Understanding Collective Impact in a Rural Funding Collaborative: Collective Grantmaking in Appalachian Ohio

This article documents the history and work of the Appalachian Ohio Funders Group, a nine-member regional grantmaking collaborative committed to strategically enhancing the region's assets through leadership, networking, financial and in-kind investments, leveraged resources, and collaboration. Specific attention is given to what makes the collaborative unique-namely, the organizational diversity of the funding partners, the lack of a shared issue area, and the fluidity of work within the group. The findings provide insight into how meaningful collaboration takes place when funders share a love of place and negotiate the costs and benefits associated with collaborative work, and how an explicit commitment to being creative and adaptive can help a group respond to emergent opportunities.