In the past two decades, the development of coalitions anchored by one or more nonprofit organizations has escalated. Advocates and supporters of a variety of environmental issues have formed coalitions to make their position known and to prevent or enable legislation favorable to their position. Church and civic groups have developed coalitions with the goal of ensuring adequate housing for the poor and the elderly. The best of these coalitions have turned out to be powerful organizational vehicles for achieving important societal goals. However, not every coalition has been successful, and not every successful coalition has achieved its results without a rather high price being paid by the organizations and people involved.
Coalitions are complex organizational structures.
The fact that many agencies and individuals who enter into coalitions do so from motives that are primarily selfless and seek the betterment of the community does not exempt them from the dynamics common to all organizations. Like any partnership, a coalition seeks to bring together groups of people who up to that point have acted within their own sphere of activity with autonomy. They have operated within an organizational structure for achieving their goals that has usually served them well. Those who have followed the development of partnered activities for the most part are equally familiar with the development of coalitions. Coalitions in a variety of areas have received ample attention and documentation.