What is a major purpose of joining a coalition?

Joining a coalition primarily enables organizations or individuals to "borrow" power from one another. Coalitions bring together diverse entities, allowing them to pool resources, knowledge, and influence to address common issues more effectively than any single member could achieve alone. By combining strengths, coalition members can enhance their advocacy efforts, gain greater visibility, and have a more significant impact on policy changes or community initiatives.

When partners collaborate in this way, they also share in the risks and responsibilities, which can enhance mutual support and engagement. This collective strength is particularly useful in social work contexts, where addressing complex social issues often requires a multifaceted approach.

The other options reflect misconceptions about coalition dynamics. For instance, while increasing funding sources might occur as a benefit of collaboration, it is not the major purpose of forming a coalition. Additionally, restricting community involvement contradicts the inclusive nature of coalitions, which typically aim to engage a wider audience. Creating competition among members can undermine collaboration and trust, which is counterproductive to the goals of a coalition. Thus, the essence of joint efforts in a coalition aligns most closely with leveraging shared power to enhance collective action.