This paper from the Monitor Institute titled Working Wikily 2.0: Social Change with a Network Mindset has very important implications for our thinking about collaboration and networks.There is also some good stuff in here about how funders can democratize grant decisions using networks:

Networks are also allowing some funders to experiment with the idea of de- mocratizing decision-making, decentralizing the authority to make grants and bringing grant decisions closer to those working on the ground and in communi- ties. The Global Greengrants Fund, for example, makes small grants to grassroots environmental groups working around the world. To find grantees and make grant decisions, the fund uses a network of regional and global advisory boards made up of local scientists and activists, leaders of small coalitions, teachers, journalists, engineers, physicians, and international environmental leaders. These advisory boards are responsible for the grantmaking decisions in each of their regions, leveraging local expertise and creating a system that puts grant decisions in the hands of the people closest to the action.