Learn how coalition building can boost your nonprofit's impact by joining forces with organizations to achieve shared goals and drive meaningful change.
When you're trying to make change—especially on big, systemic issues—it's easy to feel like your organization is too small or under-resourced to move the needle. But here's the truth: you don’t have to go it alone.
Coalition building is one of the most powerful ways nonprofits can amplify their voice, extend their reach, and drive meaningful impact. Whether you're working on policy change, community development, or public awareness, teaming up with others can make your work stronger, smarter, and more sustainable.
Here’s a straightforward guide to help you build a coalition that works.
A coalition is a group of organizations or people working together toward a shared goal. It doesn’t mean giving up your identity or mission—it means combining strengths to get further, faster.
When done right, coalitions can help you:
Reach new audiences
Share resources and reduce duplication
Show strength in numbers to decision-makers
Bring diverse voices and experiences to the table
Make a greater impact together than you could alone
Start with a simple question: What do we want to accomplish together that we can’t do alone?
Keep your goal focused and time-bound. For example:
“Pass a local policy to expand food access by year-end.”
“Host a joint community event to raise awareness about youth homelessness.”
Having a clear purpose helps attract the right partners and keeps everyone aligned.
Look for organizations or leaders who:
Serve similar or overlapping communities
Are already working on the same issue from a different angle
Bring something you lack (e.g., policy expertise, lived experience, media reach)
Tip: Don’t overlook small or grassroots groups—they often bring deep trust and connection to the community.
Reach out and ask for a quick meeting or call. Frame it as:
“We’re exploring ways to work together on [issue]. Would you be open to chatting about a potential partnership or shared effort?”
This keeps the door open without pressure.
People work best with those they trust. Take time to:
Listen to each partner’s goals and constraints
Be honest about what you can and can’t do
Acknowledge power dynamics and work to flatten them
Make space for all voices—not just the loudest or most resourced
Shared work will move faster if you build a solid foundation first.
Once you’ve got a few aligned partners, set up a first meeting to clarify:
The coalition’s goal and timeline
Who’s doing what
How decisions will be made
How you’ll communicate (email, shared drive, meetings?)
Keep it simple. A one-page agreement or Google Doc is often enough at the start.
Avoid the trap of one organization doing everything. Divide tasks based on strengths, and celebrate all contributions, big or small.
Coordinate your messages when talking to the media, lawmakers, or the public. A unified voice makes your campaign more powerful and harder to ignore.
Coalitions can be messy. People will drop off or get busy. Be flexible, but keep the core team focused on the end goal.
Even small wins (like a great event or a new sponsor) deserve recognition. Sharing success keeps people motivated and reminds everyone why they joined in the first place.
At the end of the day, coalition work is about relationships. It’s about building trust, lifting each other up, and refusing to believe that we have to compete for change. Your nonprofit is stronger when it’s part of something bigger—and so is the impact you’re trying to make.
You don’t have to do everything. But you do have something to bring to the table.
Start the conversation. Extend the invitation. Build the coalition.
See how your coalition can drive action and make progress in public policy.
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