Seven Danish initiatives inspired by Collective Impact 2014-2022 – a collection of case stories

In 2014, Realdania launched several projects and partnerships based on the Collective Impact method. Collective Impact is a systematic and data-based approach to working with complex agendas within broad, long term partnerships. Overall, Realdania has tested the method through three broad, long term partnerships dealing with different subjects. At the end of 2022, the last of these Collective Impact partnerships, Sustainable Landscapes of the future (Fremtidens bæredygtige landskaber), ended their work, having created significant results. Over the same period, Realdania and a number of other foundations have built on their experiences with Collective Impact over a range of complex fields.

With this publication we wish to follow up on some of the experiences from our own initiatives and those of other foundations, targeting system changing partnerships within complex agendas. In seven cases we have interviewed key actors to register their testimony about how they have experienced being part of our collaborations. We have reflected on the whole process and thematised interconnected learning across different arenas. Our goal has not been to evaluate, but to contribute to cross-sectoral reflection on experiences and key areas of learning. This benefits everyone working with the difficult challenges facing society – not only are these challenges complex, but equally complex is solving them. 

The purpose of this publication is to contribute insights from and into selected Danish examples of long-term approaches to complex problem areas. There is a need for insights into Danish cases. Not least because the case literature arising from processes of change inspired by Collective Impact reflects a North American context which in many ways is clearly different from the Danish context.