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Multi-Organization Collaborations

Some of the biggest opportunities that exist in our issue areas are too big or too complex for any one organization to address on its own. But there are times when a strategic coalition of 20 or 30 organizations can unlock new possibilities. APA plays a central role in designing and executing these initiatives within our community.

Methodology

Every year, we run a systematic process with our community to:

  1. Identify opportunities for new Multi-Organization Collaborations

  2. Test and vet the most promising ideas with relevant national experts

  3. Design them into concrete initiatives

  4. Fundraise to get them off the ground

  5. Steward them toward their intended outcomes

All of this is made possible by the trust and relationship that we foster in everything else we do with our community. And each year, member organizations have the opportunity to be a part of that ideation and to join the new collaborations that launch.

2025 Initiatives

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The Institute for Youth Mental Health, a collaboration between the JED Foundation (JED) and America's Promise Alliance (APA)

The Institute for Youth Mental Health, a collaboration between the JED Foundation (JED) and America's Promise Alliance (APA), is designed for member organizations that are looking to add high quality youth mental health supports and strategies into their work. The Institute will provide the content knowledge, training, capacity building, and strategic planning necessary for member organizations to develop comprehensive and sustainable youth mental health strategies, ensuring organizations are equipped to address the evolving needs of the young people they serve.

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Teacher Certification Pipeline

Through this new initiative, staff from our member organizations can get certified as teachers while working in their nonprofit. This allows our member organizations to provide a robust professional development pathway to early career professionals, will increase employee tenure, and is a major talent recruitment strategy. Ultimately, this initiative allows youth-supporting nonprofits to be a more reliable and robust pathway to diverse and experienced new talent working in schools.

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Outcomes Transparency for Nondegree Postsecondary Pathways

Leveraging our Alliance’s extensive reach and deep connections with students, APA is leading a collaborative effort to create a tool that tracks both short-term student indicators and long-term outcomes related to career success and economic mobility. This effort aims to empower students by providing data-driven insights about alternative education and workforce training opportunities, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their postsecondary options, beyond traditional higher education.

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Nonprofit-Higher Education Innovation Alliance

The Higher Education Innovation Alliance bridges the gap between postsecondary success nonprofits and higher education institutions in order to improve college access and completion rates, particularly for first-generation students. Nonprofits often support students without formal partnerships with colleges, limiting efficiency and impact, while colleges lack a structured way to engage with and learn from these nonprofits. This initiative establishes a common partnership model to foster collaboration, share best practices, and streamline data sharing. With commitments from 18 organizations, APA is leading the effort to enroll colleges, develop operational frameworks, and host annual convenings to drive innovation and scale.

What Leaders Are Saying

  • Portrait of Carmita Semaan, Founder and CEO of the Surge Institute

    "Our ability to think expansively about partnerships and how we learn from and grow with each other—that's happened very organically in the community that I've been able to build within the Alliance, and I'm excited about what that means for our sector at-large, because we are all part of a broader ecosystem."

    Carmita Semaan, Founder & CEO, The Surge Institute

  • Portrait of Marc Lesser, VP Research and Technology, National Academy Foundation

    "There was a time when mission-driven work could reach all of its potential in small, local, disconnected silos. And while so many orgs strive to maintain those "close" place-based values, the greatest challenges of our time require connection and cooperation. I think that is the potential of this network and why I'm excited to dig in."

    Marc Lesser, National Academy Foundation, VP Research and Technology

Latest News

Black poster with white text and logos promoting The Institute for Youth Mental Health by The Jed Foundation and America's Promise Alliance, with a play button icon and the text "Watch the video".