Tips

1. Identify the Issue and the Stakeholders

• Do we have a history of collaborating with others in our community? Can we transform that collaboration? 
• Who are the current convening groups or leaders in the community?
• Are there any risks that come with this association?

 

2. Anticipate Conflicts and Agree to Disagree

Address the following immediately:

• Acknowledge any competing interests.
• Acknowledge mutual respect and trust.
• Acknowledge that the coalition serves self-interests as well as common interests.

 

3. Identify Capacity and Define Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify each partner’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Establish a structure for deciding and defining roles and policies which builds on strengths.
• Create the understanding that the coalition must be tolerant of dissent, nimble, flexible and adaptable.

 

4. Identify Your Communication Capacity

How will your coalition communicate, track, organize and mobilize? Consider who has assets in:

• Desktop publishing availability?
• Website?
• Social media?
• Other means of communications?
• Who is responsible and for which piece?
• What and how are we tracking our effort?

 

5. Ascertain: Is this Workable for Everyone?

 

6. Identify Your Logistical Capacity

Who can do what to support the coalition?

 

7. Identify Your Place in the Policy Process

As a coalition, you need to be clear about your policy perspective and plans. There may be times where members don’t agree or individual organizations take different stands. How will you manage this?

 

8. Organize

• Find an ally and gain commitment to join.
• Delegate and assign responsibility.
• Reach out to those who know.
• Predict and prepare for positive and negative responses.
• Structure the organization so that it becomes institutional not peripheral.

 

9. Get Down to Work

• Manage the coalition and get them to work.
• Choose the issue based on common ground.
• Build toward success – Put up a “stop sign” before you build the highway.
• Fight today’s battles.
• Use today’s tools and today’s insights.

 

10. Legal Considerations

What works best depends on the mission. 

• What’s your coalition’s purpose?
  • Legislative advocacy?
  • New power base?
  • Ballot initiative?
  • Electoral activities?
• Who’ll act as the fiduciary?
• Tax deductibility
  • Is there any benefit to having a (c)(4)?
  • Will the coalition qualify as a (c)(3)?
• Would we be better off remaining unofficial?