Collective Giving Approaches: Pooled Funds and Aligned Giving

Collective giving brings people together around shared values and goals to increase impact. While there’s no single “right” way to do it, most collaboratives operate using one of two core approaches: pooled funds or aligned giving. Both models are effective, and many funders use a combination of the two over time.

JustFund is built to support both approaches, helping hundreds of funds manage their grantmaking end-to-end regardless of how they choose to give together.

Pooled Funds: Giving as One

Participants contribute to a single shared fund. Grant decisions are made collectively and funds are distributed from one central pot.

How it works

• Donors commit funds to a shared pool

• The group (or a designated committee) makes grant decisions together

• Grants are issued from the pooled fund to selected nonprofits

Key characteristics

• One fund, one portfolio of grants

• Shared decision-making

• Higher structure and coordination

Why groups choose pooled funds
Pooled funds are powerful when trust is high and the group wants to move meaningful resources together. They enable larger, more strategic grants and create a strong sense of collective ownership and accountability.

Considerations

• Individual donors have less control over specific grant decisions

• Reaching consensus can take time

• Works best with clear governance and aligned priorities

How JustFund supports pooled funds
Our platform centralizes application collection, review and scoring, communication, contributions, decision-making, payments, reporting, and compliance, allowing fund managers and participants to focus on strategy and impact instead of administration.

Aligned Giving: Moving Together, Giving Independently

Participants agree on shared goals, values, or strategies, but each donor gives from their own funds and retains control over their individual grants.

How it works

• Donors align around a common focus area or theory of change

• Each donor makes grants independently

• The group coordinates through shared learning, visibility, and timing

Key characteristics

• Separate funds, shared strategy

• High flexibility and donor autonomy

• Lighter structure

Why groups choose aligned giving
Aligned giving lowers the barrier to participation and accommodates diverse giving preferences. It’s often used by newer collaboratives or by groups that value flexibility while still wanting to learn and move together.

Considerations

• Less financial leverage than a pooled fund

• Potential overlap or gaps in funding

• Collective impact can be harder to measure

How JustFund supports aligned giving
We make it easy for donors to manage their own grants while staying connected to the group, with tools for coordination, shared insights, and visibility into collective progress.

Choosing, and Evolving, Your Model

Across the hundreds of funds using our platform, we see a common pattern:

• Many groups start with aligned giving to build trust and alignment

• Some evolve into pooled funds over time

• Others intentionally operate both models side-by-side

JustFund is designed for that flexibility. Funds can manage grantmaking end-to-end, from contributions and decisions to payments, reporting, and transparency, regardless of the collective giving approach they choose.

Bottom line
Pooled funds maximize collective power through shared resources and decisions. Aligned giving balances coordination with flexibility and autonomy. With the right infrastructure in place, groups don’t have to choose between the two, they can use the model that fits their goals today and evolve over time.

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Pooled Fund vs. Aligned Giving Comparison