Building CoalitionsHow To Organize Lasting Coalitions That Build

Your Organization And Win Campaigns

Nicole AllenThe Student PIRGs

CASL – Sept. 25, 2010

“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

- Benjamin Franklin,at the signing of the Declaration of Independence

Why Work In Coalitions?

• Show your strength – coalitions present an image of power.

• Consolidate resources – volunteers, lobbyists, publicity, materials.

• Expand your arsenal – access and influence, new constituencies, expertise.

• Build your organization – regular participation establishes your organization as a leader

A coalition is more powerful than the sum of its parts.

Types of Coalitions

• Endorsement model – aka “Paper Tiger.” List of endorsers builds credibility, breadth.

• Associate model – Other groups actively participate (collecting signatures, etc), but you still “run” the campaign.

• Partner model – The coalition runs the campaign as a group. All members actively participate and make decisions together.

Steps to Coalition Building

1. Outline your vision for the coalition.

2. Make a list of organizations to approach

3. Create packet (incl. endorsement form)

4. Contact other groups

5. Follow up to secure endorsements

6. Establish coalition plan

Sample Coalition

BrainstormStep 1: Coalition Vision

BrainstormStep 2: Organizations to Include

1. Cover letter2. Background articles, fact sheets3. Endorsement form

Step 3: Coalition Packet

Make Textbooks Affordable Campaign Endorsement FormThe cost of college textbooks has become a major affordability issue for many students. The average student

spends about $900 per year on textbooks and prices have been rising more than 4 times the rate of inflation for the past two decades. On top of that, publishers exacerbate the problem with practices such as issuing unnecessary new editions, bundling and withholding prices from faculty. We believe that:

• Textbooks should be priced affordably, and new editions and bundles should come out only when necessary

• Professors should consider adopting open textbooks and use other cost-reducing practices• Foundations, universities and government should fund the creation of more open textbooks

It’s time to put an end to outrageous textbook prices, and the Make Textbooks Affordable campaign is working to do that getting the word out about open textbooks and the new law. If publishers start to face competition, they will need to lower their prices and adopt fairer practices toward students.

Therefore, I/we endorse the Make Textbooks Affordable campaign:

Name ________________________________________________________ Date ______________________Position __________________________________ Organization _____________________________________Address___________________________________________________________________________________Phone __________________________________ Email ____________________________________________

I/We will help by:____ Co-sponsoring events, such as the Day of Action on Oct 21, 2010____ Organizing a presentation on open textbooks for faculty____ Distributing information to faculty ____ Writing a letter to the editor or op-ed to the campus or local newspaper____ Speaking at a press conference

Step 4: Contact Other Groups

Example

Step 5: Follow Up, Get Endorsements

Tips:• Know their process• Emphasize urgency• Get them involved immediately

BrainstormStep 6: Coalition Plan

Building CoalitionsHow To Organize Lasting Coalitions That Build

Your Organization And Win Campaigns

Nicole AllenThe Student PIRGs

CASL – Sept. 25, 2010