Aside from the innovative, comprehensive, and holistic approach to professional development, The Collective is also an example of increasingly popularized ideas around trust based philanthropy. When discussions started around forming The Collective, both partner organizations, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and Rutgers Institute for Ethical Leadership, along with program co-Founders Vicki Fernandez and Tyneisha Gibbs, agreed that participant feedback in program design needed to be a priority. The contract for funding was different than either group had participated in before and was among Dodge's largest contract. The program terms were left purposely vague, giving the program room to be nimble, responsive, and grow. Under these conditions, The Collective was able to do engage in numerous unanticipated initiatives, including offer members group and individual therapy to help deal with the multiple crises of 2020. The Grunin Foundation became a funder in 2022 following the trust based model. The program is truly and uniquely Collective driven.

Additional Funding:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation became a funder in 2022.

We continue to seek additional resources to support our mission. If your foundation is interested in learning more about adopting or advocating for The Collective, please get in touch.