Networks that Work

Networks that Work has been called an “indispensable playbook” for anyone interested or involved in harnessing the power of many groups to achieve a shared social or civic purpose.

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If your organization has joined or is considering a networked effort with other groups, if the scale of your mission seems too daunting or important to tackle alone, if you’re looking to leverage your resources and amplify your organizational power, this book is for you. It covers a range of issues to consider before you decide to network, and as you create and pursue successful networked action. Here you’ll find:

• tools you’ll need to evaluate your options
• rich case studies that bring those options to life
• checklists and essential questions to inform your choices
• free critical resources

Networks that Work is a compilation of years of observation and experience. At Community Partners, where scores of civic initiatives take root and grow under our fiscal sponsorship program, we repeatedly saw alliances and coalitions of nonprofit groups form, struggle and, too often, fail. Unfortunately, network leaders frequently underestimate the managerial attention, staff time, group know-how, and other special resources a successful network requires. Networks That Work helps leaders counter these problems, deal with the realities, and leverage the promise of working in a network. 

Great and easy reading. I enjoyed the book's practicality, particularly the network manager concept [as] sort of a referee. 
        -  Victor Griego, President, Diverse Strategies for Organizing

Networks that Work takes the concepts of cooperation and collaboration to the next level, and is certain to become widely popular as both funders, service providers, and public agencies seek to become more efficient with tightly constrained resources.  It's a "must read" for leaders who seek 'that better way.' 
        -  Gene Wilson, Retired President, ARCO Foundation; and Retired Sr VP, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Networks that Work lays the groundwork that practitioners need in order to build, manage and maintain healthy, [productive] collaborative networks. 
        -  Ray Reisler, Philanthropy Advisor and Former Executive Director, The S. Mark Taper Foundation

Order direct from Community Partners by using this Order Form (PDF) and emailing it to jcole@CommunityPartners.org.

Purchase from Amazon here (for more than 1-2 copies, please order from us.)