Austin JE, The Collaboration Challenge, © 2000; ISBN: 0787952206

This guide offers universal lessons for anyone considering a joint venture. Austin notes the role of serendipity and personal relationships in creating partnerships—a conversation in a coffee shop or during a long plane ride—often sparking the ‘ah-ha’ moment. Austin chronicles the necessary and often awkward stages needed for businesses and nonprofits to become strategic partners, and he has a healthy skepticism for ‘easy’ collaborations.

Bolton EB, Guion L, Building Coalitions, [Series] © 2005; University of Florida, Cooperative Extension Service; available free online at
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_SERIES_Coalition_Building

This comprehensive series of short tips and guidelines aims to ease collaborative efforts to achieve mutual goals among local and regional organizations.

Brindis C, Davis L. Mobilizing for Action [Communities Responding to the Challenge of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, v. 1] © 1998; Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth; available free online at
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/communitiesresponding1.pdf

This volume addresses the ‘how and why’ of building a local or statewide coalition to address teenage pregnancy.

Chrislip DD, The Collaborative Leadership Fieldbook, © 2002; San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; ISBN: 0787957194

This book balances knowledge with practical experience, offering a step-by-step pathway as well as specific examples of successful collaborations that will interest anyone involved in such efforts in the public or private sector.

Gay Straight Alliance Network, Coalition Building [Resource Sheet]; San Francisco: GSA Network; available free online at http://www.gsanetwork.org/resources/coalition.html

This is a short, tip-sheet summary of the important elements of building coalitions.

Rabinowitz P, Coalition Building, © 2003 [Community Toolbox]; Manhattan KS: University of Kansas; available free online at http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/sub_section_main_1057.htm

When community problems or issues are too large and complex for any one agency or organization, forming a coalition of groups and individuals can be an effective strategy for focusing resources and getting everyone to move in the same direction. This toolkit discusses the what, why, when, who, and how of building a community coalition.

Ray KL, The Nimble Collaboration: Fine-Tuning Your Collaboration for Lasting Success, © 2002; St Paul MN: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation; ISBN: 0940069288

Rich in observations about making your partnership, coalition, or collaboration more effective and satisfying, this book is best for those with some experience in collaboration.

Roberts JM, Alliances, Coalitions, and Partnerships: Building Collaborative Organizations, © 2004; Gabriola Island, British Columbia: New Society Publishers; ISBN: 0865715165

Nonprofits are often asked to work cooperatively with community associations and government but don’t know how to do so effectively. This book outlines why and how to develop collaborative organizations, how they can be most effective, and the nature of power and leadership in collaborative efforts.

Sherow S, Weinberger JA, Planning for Change: a Coalition Building Technical Assistance System, © 2002 [Coalition Building Basics]; Philadelphia, PA: Community Partnerships for Adult Learning; available free online at http://www.c-pal.net/pdf/coalition_building.pdf

This short book addresses the basics of building coalitions, dealing with change, planning strategically, and managing group dynamics.

Straus D, Layton TC, How to Make Collaboration Work: Powerful Ways to Build Consensus, Solve Problems, and Make Decisions, © 2002; San Francisco, CA: Barrett-Koehler Publishers; ISBN: 1576751287

Collaboration can be frustrating and exhausting. This book offers five principles of collaboration that can help any group to make better decisions and function more effectively. The five principles include: involving the relevant stakeholders; building consensus; designing a process map; designating a process facilitator; and harnessing the power of group memory. Each principle involves specific challenges in collaborative work and can be applied to a variety of problem-solving scenarios.

Winer MB, Ray KL, Collaboration Handbook: Creating, Sustaining, and Enjoying the Journey, © 1994; St. Paul MN: Amherst H. Wilder Foundation; ISBN: 0940069032

This book offers an explicit, clear, upbeat, and positive guide to achieving collaboration and reaping its benefits.

Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources, Community How-to Guide on Coalition-Building; Madison WI: Author; available free online at http://wch.uhs.wisc.edu/01-Prevention/01-Prev-Coalition.html

This guide offers an overview of coalition building along with a member checklist, roles and responsibilities of coalition members, attributes of a good coordinator, and specifics of making a coalition effective—setting goals, communicating, evaluating the efforts, assessing needs and assets, mobilizing the community, networking, etc.

Wolff T, Kaye G; From the Ground Up: a Workbook on Coalition Building and Community Development; Amherst MA: AHEC Community Partners © 1997; http://www.tomwolff.com/healthy-communities-tools-and-resources.html#pubs

A complete toolbox for effectively building coalitions and developing healthy communities, this resource speaks to the everyday work of coalition coordinators and community organizers

Wolff T, Coalition Building Tip Sheets; http://www.tomwolff.com/healthy-communities-tools-and-resources.html#pubs

These two-page tip-sheet summaries of key points on many critical issues in seeking collaborative solutions have been widely used. Subjects include finding balance between community organizing and community building; whether coalitions represent empowerment; principles of successful coalitions; membership; leadership; sustainability; evaluation; mini-grants; barriers; advocacy; civic democracy; grassroots engagement; and money.