Advocate Resources

Advocacy Tools: Coalition Building

Organizations join coalitions because of a simple fact of politics in a democracy: there is strength in numbers! Coalitions give advocates greater collective power because they maximize the strengths of the various organizations that are involved.

Often, coalitions are formed on a temporary basis to deal with a pressing issue and they dissolve upon completion of an issue campaign. Individual organizations must decide whether their views and interests are expressed and served by a particular coalition. If they are, the organization must then decide at what level it will be involved in the work of a coalition. Some groups simply endorse a coalition's mission and do little else beyond lending the credibility of their name; others will play an active role in the coalitions campaign, and still others will serve as full-fledged coalition partners, taking active leadership roles.

An organization level of involvement typically depends upon the importance of the coalition's issue to the organization, the resources the organization brings to bear, and the strengths and weaknesses of the other groups affiliated with the coalition.

Tips on Coalition Building

• Ask the key questions:
• What does my organization bring to the coalition?
• What benefits do we gain by joining -what do we gain?
• How can we build relationships through this coalition?
• What are the downsides of joining the coalition?
• Be clear about commitments and structure.
• How formal will the coalition be?
• Will you sign an endorsement letter?
• How are decisions made; how will your organization's name be used?
• How does your organization leave the coalition, if necessary?
• After forming a coalition, create an information packet that includes:
• Cover letter explaining mission and issue positions
• Supporting materials (fact sheets, news clips, etc.)
• List of Endorsing Organizations
  (This issue packet can be used to inform to media, recruit new organizations, organize the grassroots and educate decision makers.)
• Use the support you've build:
• Organize a news conference;
• Send the endorsement list to targeted decision makers;
• Update and expand the endorser list