CO is a funding strategy that directly addresses NFG's goals for supporting poor people and their communities:

• Increasing social and economic justice;
• Building vibrant, effective community-based organizations;
• Developing strong and effective community leaders; and
• Supporting communities and individuals to shape their futures.⁵⁰

CO is an important strategy for achieving positive social change philanthropy. The widening gap between rich and poor, the shameful neglect of poor inner-city and rural communities and other major impediments to achieving a healthy and just society - all of these issues demand the absolute best from grantmakers. Effective CO - and the kind of collaborative strategies CO engenders - transforms residents of distressed neighborhoods and their communities, empowering them to shape their own futures.