We help
philanthropies
think tanks
advocacy organizations
universities
nonprofits
build and deploy their social capital with as much rigor as their dollars.
Enduring partnerships & measurable impact are the result of strategy, not serendipity.
what we do
Relationships provide the catalytic sparks and force multipliers that turn ideas into impact.
But relationships also feel fuzzy, so many organizations treat them as an afterthought or write them off entirely, then wonder how to organize a coalition around a policy, or build a sustainable network of co-funders, or connect experts across silos. We work with organizations to build and execute partnerships strategies that drive measurable impact. This work typically spans three pillars:
Strategy
Mapping your ecosystem, identifying where relationships can be strengthened, and building the end-to-end partnerships strategy that will advance your objectives.
Content
Translating your policy objectives into the programming that drives shared understanding and collaboration.
Execution
End-to-end curation of convenings — from week-long policy summits to one-off co-funder dinners.
our clients
We partner with organizations of all shapes and sizes —
Philanthropies building ecosystems of grantees, researchers, and lawmakers to shape policy.
Nonprofit newsrooms forming cooperatives to expand their reach and share their resources.
Political exiles organizing across their diaspora to affect change and promote democracy.
VCs developing platform strategies for their portfolio companies to add value and ignite growth.
Think tanks bringing academics and practitioners together to form research partnerships around real world problems.
Nonprofits convening grantees to break down siloes across issue areas.
com·mu·ni·ty — A group of people connected by a shared goal, sustained by reciprocity. A term that’s overused, but under-realized.
core principles
Whether we’re designing a standalone convening or an organization's end-to-end strategy, we’re often asked whether there are “rules” for effective partnerships. There are no shortcuts, but we find ourselves sharing a few core principles:
1
Focus on who's in the room.
Well-designed programming rooted in deep research and participant expertise — and moderated by peers — moves the needle. (Almost everything else could be a press release or podcast.)
2
Events are means, not ends.
A convening is a tool, not a silver bullet. Every gathering we work on is meticulously crafted to fit into a larger strategy for lasting impact.
3
Don't get fuzzy.
Partnerships can take many different forms, but that doesn’t mean their impact is un-measurable. We collaborate to define success metrics, iterate on what’s working, and change what’s not.
Testimonials
What our clients are saying
about us
We founded Back Pocket because we believe in the transformative power of partnerships, convenings, and connection to drive progress.
Annabel Ostrow
- Former Director of Programming & General Manager at Dialog — an invite-only community of global leaders for off-the-record conversations
- Stanford University B.A.
- Currently reading Drayton & MacKenzie by Alexander Starritt
Jason Connor
- Former Director of Membership at Dialog — an invite-only community of global leaders for off-the-record conversations
- Cambridge University M.A. (Law)
- Currently reading Country People by Daniel Mason