Pathways to Partnership: How Cross-Sector Collaboration Can Increase Impact

September 2024

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We are proud to share Achieve Atlanta’s latest case study, Pathways to Partnership: How Cross-sector Collaboration Can Increase Impact, developed in collaboration with the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia University. The case study details our model’s unique cross-sector collaboration component—working with college access, affordability, and success partners to achieve outcomes that no single organization could accomplish alone. 

The case study also provides key insights that other leaders in this work can consider when developing partnerships in their communities. 

  • Alignment in mission, values, and goals: Partnerships are strongest when built on shared objectives. Finding partners that meet expectations and share your organization’s values is essential.
  • Collective accountability through data and continuous improvement: We can identify real problems and work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions by using data for continuous improvement.
  • Relationship-centered approach: Building trust is key to solving challenges. AATL involves different levels of leadership to create open communication channels, fostering innovation, and problem-solving at all levels.

Read the full case study to better understand Achieve Atlanta’s successful collaborative model and its impact on students.

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Since its founding in 2015, AATL has impacted more than 20,000 students across the high school-through-college pipeline and issued $57 million in scholarship funds to nearly 6,000 Scholars across 355 institutions. AATL Scholars persist through college at higher rates than demographically similar non-Scholars and accrue less debt than the average Georgia college student. 

Our theme for FY25, “Partnering for Impact,” leans into our core value of intentional collaboration to help drive progress toward our mission, vision, and ambition. The next phase of cross-sector collaboration will focus on applying the case study’s lessons to improve career and affordability integration with current and new partners across the Scholar journey.


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