Helping changemakers create the conditions for collaboration to work better

Collaboration has the power to accelerate social change. But bringing people together is only the beginning.

Multistakeholder collaboratives often struggle with complexity, competing priorities, unclear roles, and the challenge of sustaining momentum over time. Without the right conditions, even committed groups can become fragmented, stalled, or difficult to sustain.

Shifting Patterns helps foundations, backbone organizations, networks, alliances, and coalitions build the clarity, alignment, and momentum needed to advance systems change.

Through systems thinking, facilitation, and collaborative design, we help groups make sense of complexity, strengthen relationships, align around shared priorities, and move from conversation to coordinated action.

what becomes possible

When the conditions for effective collaboration are in place, groups are better able to:

  • Make sense of complexity together

  • Align around shared priorities

  • Build trust across stakeholders

  • Clarify roles, decisions, and next steps

  • Move from insight to coordinated action

  • Sustain momentum over time

what we help create

Clarity: Develop a shared understanding of the system, the forces shaping current outcomes, and the leverage points that can accelerate progress

Alignment: Build shared understanding, stronger relationships, and commitment around a common direction.

Momentum: Strengthen the structures, practices, and leadership needed to sustain coordinated action and meaningful change over time.

our services

collaborative sensemaking sprints

clarity for collaboratives navigating pivotal moments

Build the shared understanding needed to move through complexity and make informed decisions.

When progress stalls, the challenge is often not a lack of commitment—it is difficulty understanding the larger system and the forces shaping current outcomes.

Collaborative Sensemaking Sprints bring together diverse perspectives to uncover patterns, surface root causes, and reveal what is standing in the way of progress.

Helping stakeholders see the system together is essential for developing the shared understanding needed to identify key leverage points, make informed decisions, and take coordinated action.

Ideal for:

  • Backbone organizations navigating transition or growth

  • Networks seeking greater clarity and alignment

  • Foundations exploring field-level dynamics

Clients gain:

  • Greater clarity about the system and the forces shaping current outcomes

  • Insight into root causes and system leverage points

  • Shared understanding across diverse perspectives

  • Clear priorities and next steps

Featured Case Study: Building a Shared Vision for Civic Innovation

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catalytic convenings

Turning gatherings into catalysts for alignment and action

Turn important gatherings into opportunities for alignment, learning, and coordinated action.

Too many convenings bring the right people together without producing outcomes.

Catalytic Convenings are intentionally designed and skillfully facilitated to create the conditions for trust, dialogue, learning, and collective action.

Rather than simply sharing information, these gatherings help participants build relationships, surface insights, align around priorities, and identify practical next steps.

Ideal for:

  • Networks bringing key stakeholders together to explore systems change

  • Backbone organizations hosting collaborative working sessions

  • Foundation-sponsored learning communities

Clients gain:

  • Stronger relationships and trust

  • Greater alignment around priorities and decisions

  • Actionable insights and commitments

  • Momentum for collaborative action

Featured Case Study: Convening Faith and Grassroots Leaders for Collective Action

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Collaboration stewardship

sustaining momentum and strengthening collaboration over time

Strengthen the structures, relationships, and practices needed to sustain collaboration and create lasting impact.

Collaboration often begins with energy and enthusiasm. Sustaining it is where the real work begins.

Collaboration Stewardship provides ongoing advisory and facilitation support to help multistakeholder collaboratives remain aligned, adaptive, and effective as they evolve.

We help strengthen the relationships, structures, and practices that enable networks, alliances, and coalitions to maintain momentum and create lasting impact.

Ideal for:

  • Networks experiencing declining engagement

  • Backbone organizations navigating a changing environment

  • Foundations supporting collaborative sustainability and health

Clients gain:

  • Stronger alignment and accountability

  • More effective coordination and decision-making

  • Increased engagement and participation

  • Greater resilience and adaptability over time

Featured Case Study: Strengthening a Network for Long-Term Impact

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how our services work together

Every multistakeholder collaborative is different, but many consulting engagements follow a similar progression:

Not sure which service is right for your collaborative?

Let’s talk about where your group is, what’s getting in the way, and what progress could look like.

Schedule a discovery conversation