Coalitions take a variety of forms. Some are organized into a formal independent organization, with paid or unpaid staff, officers or core group planners, by-laws, tax exempt status, budgets, and membership fees. Others are informal gatherings of service providers working under the legal and financial umbrella of another organization. Coalitions can organize themselves in efficient organizations that meet the needs of the local service providers. The purpose of the local coalition can also vary.
Some coalitions establish informal collaborations and provide mutual support as service providers.
Other coalitions focus on the continuum of care of the service providers or accessing resources, both state and federal. Strong coalitions are focused by their common sense of vision and a strong mission statement. If all the participants in the coalition can agree on why they are meeting and what the purpose of their meeting is, then they can follow through with the details of how they will work together. These details are usually written in the form of by-laws or guidelines of the organization. Some coalitions agree that the coalition itself should never compete with individual service providers.