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Section Two
Examining Coalitions

"Louie, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca

Overview of Section

This section provides an overview of coalitions and seeks to distinguish them from other types of operating partnerships. It provides a list of traits from successful coalitions and provides an opportunity for some coalition developers to describe their experiences.

A. What Is a Coalition?

Describing a Coalition

The very nature of society today demands strategic relationships. Nations build alliances; organizations and businesses create partnerships and joint ventures. Coalitions emerge as different sectors of the community band together to obtain specific benefits that in one way or another will benefit the entire community. A coalition has been broadly defined as organizations and individuals working together to achieve a common goal. More specifically a community-based coalition is a group of individuals representing diverse organizations, factions, or constituencies within the community who agree to work together to achieve a goal.³

Coalition building is the activity of creating a network to develop a strong public-private partnership. The partnership allows members to improve or change a situation by sharing information or resources, unifying policies and actions, sharing burdens, strengthening the individual efforts of independent organizations, presenting a united front to the public, and obtaining goals not achievable when working alone. ⁴

Community Involvement

All coalitions operate within a community. Not all coalitions are able to take advantage of the power that is inherent in communities. Implicit in true community involvement is the recognition that coalitions can address community health concerns while empowering or developing capacity in local communities. The Institute of Medicine has called for all coalitions working in health related areas to foster local involvement and a sense of ownership that emphasizes local needs and advocates equitable distribution of public resources and complementary private activities commensurate with community needs.

Qualities of a Coalition

Diversity A coalition is composed of different organizations and different sectors of the community. This same diversity is reflected in the individuals that represent these groups.

Formal Working Relationship Members of a coalition develop a formal working relationship that describes with some clarity what is to be expected from each party.

Flexibility Coalitions are designed to move quickly through problems and concerns; they design themselves in ways that promote rapid action.

Efficiency The coalition is formed to focus on issues in a manner that is more efficient and effective than is possible for any individual member of the partnership.

Collaboration Individuals representing different organizations or viewpoints work in unison with one another on behalf of the organizations they represent.