Austin Together enables sustained collaborations that strengthen the nonprofit community to create better outcomes for Central Texans. During our first two years, we made 27 grants to 40 organizations, helped explore 13 collaborations, and supported the implementation of four mergers. We’ve set an ambitious goal to support more than 50 collaborations over the next three years and establish the use of sustained collaboration as a critical strategic fixture in our community. We enable sustained collaboration with proven process, smart funding, and wrap-around support. We do this as an inclusive partner, with confidentiality and an unwavering focus on quality outcomes. Sustained collaborations preserve, expand, or improve efficiency of services to the community. A collaboration involves at least one nonprofit and at least one other organization. It must have the active support of leadership, board, and staff as part of a long-term strategic vision. Nonprofits that strategically and formally partner with other organizations for the long-term can align services, strengthen their infrastructure and scale their missions, even in the face of reduced funding and increasing demand. Our goal is to support the right partnerships through a thoughtful and supported process. We begin by focusing on Why and Who to ensure a solid foundation for collaboration before moving on to What and How.