Funders Want Impact, Strong Coalitions Can Deliver It

This op-ed was first published by the Center for Effective Philanthropy on April 23, 2026.

College Success Programs Director Monica Martinez's and Ria Sengupta Bhatt's op-ed shows how coalitions drive lasting change—especially on issues essential to the success of first generation and low-income students in earning their bachelor's degree. At a critical juncture like this, that kind of collaboration matters.

This article shows what effective coalitions look like, how to fund them well, and why groups like the California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition are vital in this moment.

"As California lawmakers were assembling the most recent state budget, a coalition of nonprofits played a leading role in securing emergency aid for undocumented students facing unexpected costs that could derail their journey to a life-changing college degree. Over the past decade, the advocacy of the California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition has been instrumental in securing new state funds to help undocumented students find legal aid, basic needs support, and other vital resources."

This collective approach brings people together across organizations, perspectives, and strategies and is key to solving complex challenges in higher education.

New Webinar Series on Funding Strong Coalitions

For funders interested in learning more, the new webinar series, "Funding Strong Coalitions", takes a deeper dive into how foundations can resource and successfully support coalition-building.

Hosted by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Mandala Strategies, Michelson 20MM Foundation, Philanthropy California, the series debuts on June 30th, 2026. To register, please click on the following link: 

https://20mm.org/event/supporting-effective-single-sector-coalitions/