The Constellation Governance Model is a new framework for organizing multi-organizational collaboration that takes its inspiration from the emerging field of complexity science. It is a way of organizing a group of interested parties to meet a need without having to create a new organization. The model is biased towards action. It is ideally suited to a group that is seeking to deliver a coordinated voice. 'Coordinated mutual self-interest' is harnessed, valued and balanced with common or converging interests and the needs of the greater community.
The constellation model is a 'container' to hold the many activities that emerge from a vibrant group of people that are working towards improving the nonprofit sector in Ontario. Constellations are self-organizing action teams composed of people that share a desire to get something done. It may be a community of practice, a project, a response to government, an advocacy campaign or any action that works in service to the goal of strengthening the nonprofit sector in Ontario. Constellations are led by whomever shows the leadership. Others participate in the constellation because they care and it is relevant to their work. Constellations coordinate and connect with each other to ensure that their work is adding value and that it is benefiting from the broader 'network.' This coordination is handled through the mailing list and through the Steering Committee.
Our Steering Committee is a group of sector leaders who are working strategically to support the cohesion of the sector through the Ontario Nonprofit Network.
Our first constellation was the formation of an Expert Reference Group in order to respond to the Ontario Government's Nonprofit Legal Framework Modernization process. As news of our network spread, new constellations have been formed, including a constellation on social enterprise and social economy. There are a myriad of issues which affect many of us in the nonprofit sector and we invite people - you - to find an issue that you are passionate about and start a constellation with other equally passionate people. Perhaps a group will form around such things as raising the profile of the nonprofit sector in Ontario, or perhaps we will start aligning with each other to figure out a more effective relationship with government around funding and accountability. Or we could explore cross-sectoral discussions on, for example, the ways that the environment sector could start pushing for subsidized day care spaces, or how the health sector could start using their strength to mobilize around climate change, or how green jobs can be part of a poverty reduction strategy - you get the idea.
To learn more about the Constellation Governance Model, read Tonya Surman's "Constellation Collaboration: A model for multi-organizational partnership"
