This report draws on a year of Partnering for Philanthropic Impact inquiry, in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Foundation and Z Zurich Foundation, which are keen to strengthen their own institutional capacities to partner and to share their learning with the sector. These early insights, combined with TPI’s 17 years of experience in supporting the theory and practice of effective partnerships, inform the models that are presented in the report.

At the core of the report are four core models through which foundations are currently choosing to partner: Trusted Partner, Connector, Supporter and Systems Leader. In considering which partnering model is most appropriate to a particular foundation’s strategic goals, organisations can learn from the partnering journey taken by others and ensure the partnerships they engage in are as effective as possible.