Collaborating to Reduce Poverty

Abstract

The authors report on the findings of a national survey of city officials and executive directors of nonprofit organizations that was conducted by the National League of Cities in 1998 to gain a better understanding of the ways in which community-based organizations (CBOs) and city governments are working together to reduce poverty and revitalize neighborhoods. The findings are mixed. Although collaboration between city governments and CBOs is fairly widespread, in most communities, the “thin” version of collaboration reported may not produce the beneficial outcomes suggested by some proponents of collaboration. Although both city and CBO officials acknowledge the importance and value of collaborative approaches to reducing poverty and revitalizing neighborhoods, investments in capacity building and community-based strategic planning may be needed before the benefits of collaboration can be fully realized in most communities.