Launching for Impact: United Way of Greater Chattanooga Builds a Collaborative Future
Industry: Nonprofit
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Service: Collaborative Leadership & Strategy Mobilization
Results:
Co-designed a launch strategy for a 3-year, equity-focused collective impact initiative
Increased shared understanding of team roles and collaboration by nearly 40%
Developed a unified journey map, teaming best practices, and partner alignment plan
About United Way of Greater Chattanooga
United Way of Greater Chattanooga (UWGC) is a nonprofit that focuses on uniting people and resources in building a stronger, healthier community. They envision a community where all people achieve their full human potential through education, stability, and health & well-being. Working across six counties, they connect resources and partnerships to create lasting solutions that help individuals and families thrive.
Challenge
When the United Way of Greater Chattanooga reimagined its Impact Fund as a three-year, collaborative grantmaking initiative, it wasn’t just launching a funding program—it was setting the stage for systemic transformation. With a bold new model focused on collective impact for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families and children, United Way turned to Bridge Innovate to help guide the rollout from vision to action.
The initiative represented a shift in both mindset and mechanics. Rather than funding nonprofits in isolation, UWGC would invest in a cohort—a community of partner organizations working together to drive equity-centered outcomes across three focus areas: Opportunities for All Children, Economic Mobility for Families, and a More Connected Community. Launching this initiative required strategic clarity, strong relationships, and a shared framework for collaboration.
Solution
Bridge Innovate served as a design and facilitation partner, supporting United Way through planning, engagement, and implementation. Our work included behind-the-scenes coaching and project management, as well as the facilitation of three milestone convenings:
January 2025 – Partner Planning Session
At this early-stage gathering, newly selected nonprofit partners came together to co-create the foundation of the cohort. Through collaborative exercises and small-group work, partners shared insights, defined teaming best practices, and helped design the initial journey map for how they would work together across the grant cycle.March 2025 – Internal Strategy Workshop
With input from the January session in hand, United Way staff gathered to refine and finalize key components of the program. Bridge facilitated working sessions on implementation planning, internal team roles, and cohort support strategies. The result: a cohesive operational plan aligned with both external partner feedback and internal capabilities.June 2025 – Impact Cohort Kickoff
In the culminating session, all nonprofit partners reconvened to align around outcomes, expectations, and shared values. Participants delivered elevator pitches, identified connections across programming, and confirmed a shared understanding of best practices for teaming, communication, and accountability. The cohort left with clarity of purpose and a unified vision for the work ahead.
Result
With a successful launch behind them, the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and its nonprofit partners are now equipped with a collaborative structure, an aligned strategy, and a roadmap for collective action. Bridge Innovate continues to support the effort through coaching and facilitation—ensuring that the cohort remains focused, adaptive, and outcomes-driven.
The program participants - both the United Way staff and the Impact Cohort Partners - have shown significant growth in their understanding of their shared responsibilities and commitments for their collaborative efforts. At the kickoff meeting in January, the groups reported a nearly 40% increase in shared understanding of these key partnership metrics. This kickoff allowed the group to start with a strong momentum, which they have continued to display as they launched this large initiative.
Growth Scores
Overall Satisfaction Score: 9.0 / 10
Average Pre-Program Understanding: 5.8 / 10
Average Post-Program Understanding: 8.1 / 10
Average Participant Growth in Understanding: 39.65%
*self-reported score by participants on 01.29.25
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