In every community or organizational network, there are key individuals who help keep the system connected and effective. These people are known as network brokers—individuals who sit at strategic points in a network and play a crucial role in facilitating collaboration, resource-sharing, and information flow.
Public health departments. Nonprofits. Foundations. City agencies. Whatever your mission, building and managing partnerships is central to making an impact. But in today’s climate of shrinking budgets, increased demand, and stretched teams, maintaining those partnerships can feel overwhelming. At Visible Network Labs, we call this
In complex social systems—coalitions, collaboratives, partnerships, or cross-sector initiatives—network leadership is about more than connection. It’s about positioning, facilitation, and leveraging relationships to drive strategic outcomes. This is where network brokers play a vital role. At the heart of brokerage is the idea that individuals
⏰ Quick Takeaway: Bulk‑edit hundreds of members in one upload, instantly catch CSV formatting hiccups, onboard new teammates with a guided Platform Tour, and get a fast view of who-knows-who with the new Relationships Tab—all live in PARTNER as of June 2025. Our product and
Community-asset mapping can be a launchpad for stronger partnerships and smarter resource allocation—but only if the process is as intentional as the map itself. It is easy to get lost in the forest and lose sight of the big picture if you aren’t careful, especially
Healthy networks don’t happen by accident. They are intentionally designed ecosystems that evolve through clear goals, purposeful structure, and a relentless focus on relationships. Drawing on ten key topics from VNL’s Insights Library, below are condensed lessons you can apply today—whether you’re launching a new
In complex systems like public health, early childhood, and behavioral health, coordination is everything—but it’s hard. More and more communities are turning to hubs as central connectors to align stakeholders, share resources, and drive systems change. However, without a clear picture of the network, hubs
Communities and coalitions rely on strong relationships to create change—but those relationships are often invisible without the right tools to map and measure them. Social network analysis (SNA) can shine a light on these connections, but understanding and acting on the data requires more than
Community asset mapping is a powerful practice embraced by nonprofits, public health agencies, local governments, and coalitions to illuminate and mobilize the inherent strengths within their communities. Instead of solely focusing on needs or deficits, this strengths-based approach builds upon what’s already working, fostering resilience
Last week, I opened a newsletter that hit me with a concept that immediately clicked—and not just because I’ve worked in SaaS. The article, written by Isaac Peiris, dives into a core idea from product strategy called Time to Value (TTV)—the amount of time it
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Advice for building, managing, and assessing cross-sector networks or coalitions of partners.
A template to map the connections and interactions between key stakeholders in your community.
A worksheet and guide to help you think through and develop your network or ecosystem strategy.
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