By Ann Marie McGee
Philanos Board Co-Chair and Member, Impact 100 Redwood Circle 

Collective Leadership and the Ripple Effect

In collective giving, leadership often takes a different form, from what may have been a traditional view for many of us. Collective leadership when most effective is shared. It is woven from the strengths of many and is at the heart of every giving circle. Decisions are not made by one voice, but by many. 

Each member has the opportunity to bring her experience, her insight, and her passion for change. This leadership model doesn’t just shift where the money goes; it shifts the power of philanthropy itself. Collective leadership is not about hierarchy, but about collaboration.

With collaboration, the impact is amplified. Like a stone dropped into water, it sends ripples outward—touching people, communities, and systems in ways that go far beyond the initial act of giving.

The ripple effect sparks something larger: circles, networks, and entire communities dream big and see what’s possible. A grant to a small nonprofit doesn’t just keep the lights on; it allows new programs to take root, leaders to emerge, and futures to be reshaped.

Take, for example, a Philanos Affiliate that funds a literacy program in a neighborhood library. The immediate impact is clear—more children with books in their hands. But the ripple is far wider. Parents gather for story time and connect with one another. Teachers see stronger readers in the classroom. A generation grows up with greater opportunities. 

And the members of the affiliate? They too are transformed, volunteering and serving as ambassadors for collective giving and spotlighting the community impact.

Collective leadership is powerful because it does not stop where decisions are made. It continues outward, creating waves of generosity and empowerment that extend farther than any one of us could reach alone.

When we embrace the ripple effect, we recognize that collaborative and collective leadership is never just about today’s grant or this year’s project. It is about building momentum for tomorrow, inspiring others to add their own drops to the water. 

Together, we don’t just create ripples. We create a tide. A tide of generosity, leadership, and community power that is reshaping philanthropy and redefining what is possible when we lead together.