Leadership will vary by the type and agenda of your coalition. At the core, you want to make sure your leadership team represents your stakeholders and supporters. Regardless of the type of coalition, you should have representation to make sure diverse voices are heard, respected, and represented.

Once you have determined what type of coalition you intend to create (volunteer, 501(c)(3), mix of volunteer and paid staff, groups of other coalitions with similar missions), you need to think about your leadership structure. This is not one size fits all but rather what will work for your organization. Not every coalition has the same leadership structure.

In addition to the leadership structure, you also have to consider leadership skills. Depending on the skill-set of individuals, one structure may work better than others. Not everyone on the leadership team will have all the necessary skills, that is why having a diverse group leads to success.

Once you have your leadership team, you can begin to work on your mission statement, goals, and objectives.