Forming an LCCR/LCCREF Coalition in Your State
LCCR/LCCREF encourages LCCR/LCCREF model coalitions on the state level. Working in coalition with a wide range of diverse organizations on activities such as voter education efforts, and candidate and issue forums, allows you to take on larger projects, reach more constituencies, increase membership to coalition organizations, and gain additional visibility. The points below will be helpful as you consider partnering with groups in your community.
- Do your research.
Search for organizations with similar missions with which to work. Assess their priorities, types of activities, and the kinds of benefits you would both receive by joining forces.
- Attend events sponsored by other organizations.
Your organization is truly community-based by supporting diverse organizations working for similar causes. Show interest in others’ work and watch them do the same.
- Consider new, diverse partners.
Target diverse organizations with whom you have never worked before.
- Search for coalitions that already exist.
If an existing coalition that is doing the same or similar work is already in place, join forces and increase your impact to avoid duplication of efforts
- Create relationships with organization leaders and members.
Personal contact will improve your relationships with organizations and lay a solid foundation before you begin to work together. By gaining friends in diverse organizations, you reinforce a commitment to, and sincerity toward, working with other groups.
- Formalize communication.
Consider how you will communicate with each other. Who will be responsible? If you use a phone, fax, or e-mail tree, who will be the primary contact? What guidelines do you need for dealing with different organizational styles and approval systems?
- Formalize the decision making process.
Will there be a coalition chair? Will majority opinion or consensus be used to implement decisions? How often will you meet?
- Formalize your budget.
Who pays for activities? Who approves expenditures? How much money will each organization contribute or raise?
- Formalize the evaluation process.
How often will you evaluate the coalition’s effort and progress? Who will be responsible for the evaluation? Who will implement the changes, if needed?
