Calibrating Collaboration: Differentiating Governance, Management, and Coordination

In “Calibrating Collaboration: Differentiating Governance, Management, and Coordination,” the Rev. David Rowe, Ph.D., senior advisor for governance and strategy at the In Trust Center, offers practical guidance for institutions engaged in collaborative initiatives, emphasizing the importance of clearly distinguishing among corporate governance, asset management and program coordination. While broad participation and shared decision-making can strengthen program development and implementation, fiduciary responsibilities remain with governing boards and cannot simply be delegated to collaborative steering committees. Rowe urges institutions to establish clear policies and decision-making processes in advance, document responsibilities for grants, subgrants, shared endowments and expenditures, and consult accountants, attorneys and auditors to address differing institutional policies and state requirements. Ultimately, Rowe argues that successful collaborations depend on understanding how these responsibilities fit together while ensuring that the people involved know which role they are serving: governance, asset management or program coordination.