query: difference between coalitions and partnerships

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed:  thanks to Holly, Amanda, and Dan for replying to Kevboy's query.]

From: Holly Hickson <andivy2 at yahoo.com>

Interesting work that  Guy presented.  I work with nonprofit 
organizations on the social service end.  When we are writing grants and 
defining ourselves , we generally try to fit in with government notions 
of this.  For me, then, a partnership implies , often, a more formalized 
agreement such as a contract or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA/MOU)  It is 
just another small piece of the puzzle, since often, that social 
service/community organization/CDC boundary is blurred in the middle of 
the continuum.  (Hey--I was IAF at one time--I know there is a big 
difference and there are purists out there: cut me a break. LOL)
  
  Holly HIckson

***************************

From: "Amanda Tattersall" <ATattersall at workingnsw.org.au>


There is no doubt that terms like partnership and coalitions are
confusingly used in practice and scholarship.  For what it is worth, my
PhD looked at the question of coalitions and coalition unionism to try
and identify a framework for understanding when and how coalitions are
powerful.

In doing so, I used the term coalitions to define any relationship
between two or more organisations when those organisations come together
to act on their common concern.  I then explored examples of different
types of coalitions, and named different types of coalitions that
exhibited certain features (eg ad hoc coalitions, mutual interest
coalitions ....).

I use the term coalition broadly to describe any type of relationship
between organisations.  Then, I identified categoristics that make
coalitions more or less likely to be long term/short term, build strong
relationships/weak relationships, harness power, mobilize.  I found this
useful because it allows us to understand how coalitions change.  I
think it makes it easier than having semantic discussions where terms
like 'alliance', 'partnership', coalitions are used to mean different
things - because as organisers know - in practice these words are used
interchangeably.

Papers that look at case studies and examples of coalitions are
available at www.communityunionism.org.

**********************************

From: "tutormentor1 at earthlink.net" <tutormentor1 at earthlink.net>


I've adopted concepts from coalition building, and partnership concepts, as
well as trade associations,co-ops, and small business innovation, to build
what I call a "network of purpose", or, a network of people and
organizations who want to help kids living in poverty grow up safely, and
have the adult networks and learning supports needed to help more of these
kids finish high school and move to jobs and careers.

Here's a blog article I wrote that points out how we've been creating this
network, with links to a timeline that shows how this network has grown
over 30 plus years.
http://tutormentor.blogspot.com/2007/11/tutormentor-on-line-network-social.h
tml

This also includes links to other articles and resources that illustrate
the work leaders need to do to build and sustain networks focused on common
goals.

Dan Bassill
Tutor/Mentor Connection
Cabrini Connections
800 W. Huron
Chicago, Il. 60622


Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
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> [ed:  please feel welcomed to copy COMM-ORG with responses to Kevboy's 
> query.]
>
> From:     anil kumar <kevboy_anil at yahoo.com>
>
> Hi,
> i am a graduate student in Public Health and i am in Community 
> Organizing class and doing a project in this class. One of the 
> assignments in this class asked specifically about the structural or 
> functional differences between the "coalitions and partnerships and 
> their role in community organizing". I couldn't find any source which 
> specifically  differentiates these two, hence i thought you people might 
> be of some help. Reason being i always visit this discussion thread and 
> found some useful stuff over here for my class.
>
> Thank you in advance.
> kevboy.
>
>
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