Center for Civic Partnerships

Building a Collaborative

"A collaborative is a mutually beneficial relationship between two or more parties who work toward common goals by sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability for achieving results."
(from Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference -see Suggested Reading)

Top Tips

Define the purpose and direction: Determine exactly what the group wants to accomplish and why it is necessary to achieve it through a collaborative.
Commit to a unifying mission: The collaborative’s mission will require members to agree to share power and resources; individual agendas must be secondary.
Involve "key partners" and stakeholders: Identify organizations and community representatives who have similar goals and interests and who will recognize and commit to the benefits of collaboration.
Identify potential community partners: Actively recruit and consistently include community members and organizations that will benefit from or be impacted by collaborative activities. Collaborative membership should also reflect the ethnic and cultural groups of the community served.
Define roles: Clearly establish the expectations and responsibilities of the collaborative and its individual members. Each partner must have a clear understanding of what is expected from him/her and his/her organization.
Develop decision making processes and ground rules: Design a democratic, inclusive decision making process and firm ground rules that are contributed to and approved by each member and community organization. A memorandum of understanding approved by agency decision makers and community members may be appropriate.
Share the leadership: Develop a strong leadership and governance structure. Remember that collaboration requires shared leadership by members. Leaders must be impartial and work in the best interest of the collaborative.
Commit to clear and frequent communication: Effective, thorough communication with and between collaborative members is necessary. Implement formal and informal communication tools early on in the collaborative process to inform members of all decisions and activities.
Address conflict immediately: Collaboration requires a diverse group of community and agency representatives to work closely together. Conflicts of interest, individual agendas and competition issues will inevitably occur. A conflict resolution process should be developed and approved by members before the first conflict arises.
Assess current resources, assets, needs and obstacles: Recognize and build upon existing community strengths and assets. Utilize available services and expertise that currently exist to avoid possible duplication. Identify needs, challenges and obstacles to be addressed.
Develop the collaborative’s vision and goals: Strategically plan realistic, specific and attainable goals and objectives, which will support the mission and purpose of the collaborative.
Be flexible! A commitment to change is a prerequisite for successful collaboration!

Online Resources and Tools

The Alliance
www.allianceonline.org/default.htm
Provides management and governance information and support services to nonprofit organizations.

Beacon Project
www.beaconproject.org
Offers volunteer assistance, management education and research information for non-profit management.

Building Better Communities Network
www.bettercommunities.org
Supports community-building efforts to achieve social and economic equity by providing advocacy, conferences, information and technical assistance.

California Healthy Start
www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/hs
Brings schools, businesses, non-profits and governmental agencies together to develop school-linked services.

Civic Practices Network
www.cpn.org
Brings individuals, community based organizations, businesses, and institutions together. Provides tools, tips and positive examples of civic engagement.

Association for Community Health Improvement
www.communityhlth.org/communityhlth/index.jsp
Develops and provides resources, networking, and models for healthy community movements.

Chandler Center for Community Leadership
crs.uvm.edu/nnco/collab/wellness.html
Focuses on the practical application of research, proven success and action to solve community problems.

Community Development Society
www.comm-dev.org
Promotes community development through conferences, networking and publications.

Community Tool Box
www.ctb.ku.edu
Provides tips, tools and resources on all aspects of community building including: visioning, facilitation, collaboration, media and communication, participation, planning and evaluation.

HandsNet
www.handsnet.org
Integrates effective online communications strategies with community organizations to strengthen their programs and policies for children, families and people in need.

National Civic League
www.ncl.org
Advocates for and provides resources and support to civic engagement and community improvement efforts across the country.

Neighborhoods Online
www.neighborhoodsonline.net/index.html
Promotes neighborhood empowerment.

Pathways to School Improvement
www.ncrel.org
Research-based information on school improvement.

Pew Partnership
www.pew-partnership.org
Civic research organization with information on successful community solutions and civic practices.

Together We Can Initiative
www.togetherwecan.org
Leadership development and training support for collaboratives.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
Office of Community Planning and Development
www.hud.gov
Funding for job development, housing, AIDS, and community development programs.

Suggested Reading

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. 1997. Community Building: What Makes It Work: A Review of Factors Influencing Successful Community Building. To order, call 1-800-274-6024.

Axner, Marya. 1993. The Community Leadership Project Curriculum. To order, call the Topsfield Foundation at 203-928-2616.

Blank, Martin J. and Danzberger, Jacqueline 1996. Creating and Nurturing Collaboration in Communities. Details five cities working for collaborative change. To order, call 202-822-8405.

Blank, Martin J. and Lombardi, Joan 1992. Toward Improved Services for Children and Families: Forging New Relationships Through Collaboration. For more information, go to:
www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal

Blank, Martin J. and Melaville, Atelia 1993. Together We Can: A Guide for Crafting a Profamily System of Education and Human Services. Comprehensive tool for systems change in children, youth and family services. To order, call 202-219-2129.

Chrislip, David D. and Larson, Carl E. 1994. Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference (San Francisco, Jossey-Bass).

Chynoweth, Judith K. 1994. A Guide to Community-based Collaborative Strategic Planning. Provides basic tools for collaborative planning. To order, call 202-624-5386.

Crowley, James F. and Muldoon, Joseph A. 1989. The Alliance for Change: Task Force Planning Guide. To order, call Community Intervention, Inc. at 800-328-0417.

Gray, Barbara 1989. Collaborating: Finding Common Ground for Multiparty Problems (San Francisco, Jossey-Bass). For more information, go to: www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/

Himmelman, Arthur T. 1992. Communities Working Collaboratively For a Change. To order, call 612-824-5507.

Hodgkinson, Harold L. and Others, American Association of School Administrators, Arlington, Va.; National School Boards Association, Alexandria, VA. 1991. Beyond the Schools: How Schools & Communities Must Collaborate To Solve The Problems Facing America’s Youth. Available through:
www.amazon.ca/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books-ca&field-author=American%20Association%20of%20School%20Administrators&page=1

Kaye, Gillian and Wolff, Tom Ph.D. 1997. From the Ground Up! A Workbook on Coalition Building & Community Development. To order, call AHEC/Community Partners at 413-253-4283.

Kretzmann, John P. and McKnight, John L. 1993. Building Communities from the Inside Out; A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets. To order, call ACTA Publications at 800-397-0079.

Mattessich, Paul and Monsey, Barbara R., Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, 1992. Collaboration: What Makes It Work. Detailed descriptions of the 19 key elements of collaboration. To order, call 800-274-6024.

Melaville, Atelia I., with Blank, Martin J. 1991. What It Takes: Structuring Interagency Partnerships To Connect Children and Families With Comprehensive Services. Available through:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006F01FS/qid=1144254852/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-6748349-2972863?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Potapchuk, William, Crocker, Jarle and Schechter Jr., William. Systems Reform and Local Government: Improving Outcomes for Children, Families and Neighborhoods. Discusses institutional and cultural barriers to effective collaboration in communities. To order, call 202-783-2961.

Sierra Health Foundation. 2000. We Did It Ourselves: Guidelines for Successful Community Collaboration. A series of three guidebooks developed by the Center for Collaborative Planning, SRI International and Sierra Health Foundation. These "how-to" books include information on asset-based community planning, communications and designing an evaluation. A focus is on engaging community members in the planning process. To order, call 916-922-4755 or visit www.sierrahealth.org.

Winer, Michael and Ray, Karen, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. 1994. Collaboration Handbook: Creating, Sustaining, and Enjoying the Journey. To order, call 1-800-274-6024.