BACK TO THE TOOLKIT Coalition Development   Introduction Step 1 - Assess Step 2 - Mobilize Step 3 - Develop Step 4 - Implement Step 5 - Monitor Step 6 - Sustain

Coalition Development

Step 6: Sustain efforts

Many coalitions and coalition experts note that a sixth step – sustainability – is essential to the long-term existence of a coalition.

Sustainability is a coalition’s ability to maintain its focus, efforts, and often, existence, for the long term.  Like evaluation, sustainability should be considered from the outset of a coalition’s evolution.  Too often, coalitions do not plan for sustainability and then struggle once a certain goal is reached, a particularly effective leader exits, or a specific funding source dissipates.

While sustainability often means dollars, it can also mean community investment.  If a community or coalition members lose interest in substance abuse prevention, then the existence of the coalition may become moot, regardless of the funding stream.

Some of the keys for sustainability include a commitment to a long-term (if appropriate) existence for the coalition.  While some coalitions are created for a short-term goal and can and do readily disband once that goal is reached, most coalitions are working toward community change that either takes years to achieve or will be ongoing for the life of the community.  Once that commitment is made, then the coalition must take steps to ensure its survival.

Considerations for long-term sustainability:

• Priorities:  What must be sustained?  What are the core activities or projects of the coalition?  What can be let go should funding become scarce?  Are enough people involved in those priority areas that coalition members have ownership and belief enough to value sustaining them?
• Funding:  How will the coalition financially support itself over the long haul?  Will the coalition need more funding five years from now than it does today?  Are the funding sources diverse enough that the coalition can survive should one source of funding end?
• Leadership:  Is coalition leadership widespread enough that it can survive the departure of any one person?  Is there a historical record of the coalition’s activities that future leaders can rely on?  Are there opportunities for coalition members to develop their leadership skills so the coalition has a strong base of leadership?
• Partners:  Does the coalition have friends?  Is the coalition continuing to develop partnerships with other community organizations, municipal bodies, and other entities?  Has the coalition established relationships with elected leaders?

Why some coalitions fail

Some coalitions are unable to sustain themselves for the long term and for a variety of reasons. Some of the hazards that can inhibit sustainability:

• Lacking leadership and teamwork
• Lacking critical thought
• Ignoring history and environmental signs
• Becoming complacent                   
• Not listening to consumers/customers
• Forgetting quality
• Having no systems perspective
• Focusing on short-term
• De-emphasizing training, which results in prevention as a movement without the discipline of the science integrated into community efforts
• Engaging in networking vs. true partnership and collaboration
• Not recognizing coalitions often need years to show long-term results; making the development of short and mid-term objectives crucial.

Coalitions must be proactive about their own existence if they expect to survive the evolving landscapes of communities and shifting priorities.

Some of the tasks involved in the sustainability stage:

• Recognize progress and successes along the way (as well as at the project’s conclusion if it is not ongoing).
• Reinforce community support and participation throughout the project to maintain interest and focus on substance abuse prevention.
• Institutionalize positive changes; work with partnering groups and agencies to ensure that successful prevention strategies continue as integral elements of their policies and activities.

Access the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) information on sustainability.

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