Steps in Building a Successful Partnership

1. Define mission, goals and objectives.

· What is the coalition trying to accomplish by coming together?

· Translate the individual goals and objectives of each organization into a mission for the partnership.

2. Identify supporters and stakeholders.

· Who will benefit from this partnership?

· Think about including those who could be adversarial if not included in the process.

· Strategize how to balance and control diverse groups

3. Create a structure.

· Identify the roles needed for the coalition to function.

· Assign responsibilities within all parties.

· Set up a coordinating function to hold the group together and manage communications.

· Develop shared solutions as problems arise.

· Be flexible.

4. Determine expectations.

· Start with outcome measures.

· Obtain consensus on the data elements.

· Collect a baseline before starting, e.g. how many people are already receiving this service?

5. Create a communications network.

· Develop a common language; don’t let semantics become a problem.

· Communicate openly and frequently with all partners.

· Identify a person to effect all internal coalition communication.

· Specify a single spokesperson for all public communication.

6. Develop a message.

· Keep the message simple and relevant.

· Craft a message that works with your local community.

· Repeat the message over and over again.

This information is available to download in document format (DOC).


State Library All of CDE