1. Coalitions: Building and Joining Advocacy Training Module

2. What is a Coalition? An organization of organizations that is actively working on an issue campaign!

3. Types of Coalitions Formal Issue Informal

4. Advantages of Working Together Increase power. Able to win something that couldnt be won alone. Increase resources – staff, money, members. Broaden the scope of work.

5. Guidelines for Coalition Building Choose a unifying issue. Not the road to diversity. Dont change your values or mission. Understand each groups self interest. Respect each groups internal process. Agree to disagree.

6. Guidelines for Coalition Building (cont) Play to the center with tactics. Recognize that contributions vary. Structure decision making carefully. Urge stable and senior representation at meetings. Distribute credit fairly. If there are staff they should be neutral.

7. Guidelines for Joining Coalitions Know what you want to get out of it. Know the coalition members and background. Get clear expectations. Maintain an independent program. Evaluate your role carefully.