Stage 1: Designing the Partnership

• Partnering activities are based on individual projects rather than on a single partnership vision or mission statement.
• Benefits are limited to achieving the short-term goals of a particular project or activity.
• Contact between community and campus partners is limited to a few phone calls, emails, and face-to-face meetings.

Stage 2: Building on Collaboration

• The partners begin to explore longer-term projects and can identify the value of partnering as opposed to the benefits of isolated projects.
• Partners are able to identify mutual benefits as opposed to benefits to each partner.
• Contact between community and campus partners is more frequent. Partners become involved with the broader activities of the partnering organizations.

Stage 3: Sustaining the Partnership

• The partners have articulated a partnership vision of mission statement.
• Partners build on each other’s strengths in ways not envisioned before— e.g., joint membership on boards, joint grant writing, fundraising, and policy work.
• The partners have developed a collegial, professional relationship based on parity and mutual respect. They are comfortable with occasional disagreement and can offer constructive criticism.