In today’s interconnected world, some of the most pressing challenges that nonprofits strive to address—economic inequality, social inequity, climate change—transcend borders and impact every aspect of our lives.

So, why do we tend to tackle these problems in isolation?

Focus is crucial, but current nonprofit approaches and resource investments often silo us. In doing so, they prevent us from tapping into the “adjacent possible,” a concept introduced by theoretical biologist Stuart Kauffman and popularized by author Steven Johnson. In simple terms, it’s about building off of innovations that currently exist. Each subsequent innovation increases the possibilites of what can happen next. Johnson describes it as “a map of all the ways in which the present can reinvent itself.”

This kind of visionary work can’t happen in a vacuum of individual efforts, no matter how exceptional they are. No single organization can address these entrenched issues alone. But together, we can share more than just resources; we can share creativity and build on each other’s innovations. Collaboration at this level requires leadership to initiate it and governance to sustain it.

To effectively tackle the biggest challenges, we need community ensembles—diverse coalitions of stakeholders that include nonprofits, government agencies, private sector partners, and community members. These coalitions can come together to pool resources, share expertise, and co-create solutions.

There are several key characteristics of successful community ensembles:

Diverse Participation: They involve individuals and organizations from various sectors and backgrounds to ensure a wide range of perspectives and skills.

Shared Vision: They establish a common goal that aligns with the values and mission of all participants.

Collaborative Leadership: They convene leaders who are committed to facilitating open dialogue, fostering trust, and encouraging equitable participation.

Effective Governance: They implement structures and processes that support decision-making, accountability, and sustainability.

Community ensembles that leverage diverse viewpoints and expertise unlock the potential for innovative solutions. Like adjacent possibilities, these coalitions can blend perspectives, beliefs, and knowledge to transform initial ideas into profound insights, turn significant learning into collective direction, and evolve vision into previously unimaginable capabilities.

Let’s continue to build bridges, not walls, and move forward with a shared commitment to creating a better world…together.