Building Strong, Sustainable Backbone Leadership: A Field Study of Cross-Sector Collaborative Organizations

Through extensive interviews with leaders in the field about their experiences and reflections on the demands of their positions, this field study fills a gap in information about, and understanding of, what backbone leaders need in terms of competencies and skills as well as supports to effectively carry out these pivotal roles. This field study provides:

• An overview of the competencies that leaders considered of greatest importance for ensuring strong, sustainable backbone structures.
• A review of the supports that already exist for backbone leaders in developing these competencies.
• Recommendations for what additional learning and development opportunities are needed.
• Additional strategic considerations raised by practitioners across the country.

Access the full brief here and the executive summary.