In the learn-and-work ecosystem, multi-organization collaborations refer to groups of organizations that voluntarily work together—formally or informally—to pursue shared goals related to research, innovation, policy, workforce development, credentialing, and/or system improvement. Common characteristics include shared purpose and mutual benefit, cross-organizational participation, varying levels of formality, and may be ongoing or time-limited

Forms of multi-organization collaborations include:

• Alliance - A collaborative partnership that may be formal or informal, often used as a flexible term for multi-stakeholder, cross-sector efforts focused on advancing shared missions.
• Coalition - A group of organizations temporarily or permanently aligned to advocate for a policy, cause, or system reform.
• Collaborative-A group working together on joint projects or shared objectives, often emphasizing co-creation or co-design. The collaborative often emphasizes shared ownership and work.
• Consortium/Consortia- A group of organizations (often educational institutions, but can include employers, government agencies, nonprofits, and others) that voluntarily come together to collaborate on shared goals such as research, innovation, policy development, resource sharing, and/or joint programming. Consortia often have a formal structure, governance, shared funding, and clearly articulated objectives.
• Network - A loosely connected group of individuals or organizations sharing information, best practices, or informal collaborations. They may be ad hoc, and have low or no formal governance
• Partnership - Two or more organizations working together under a formal or informal agreement. Partnerships can range from simple agreements to complex joint ventures.
• Task Forces / Blue Ribbon Committees - A panel of experts convened (typically short-term) to study or make recommendations on particular issues.

See Topic Report: Multi-Organization Collaborations in the Learn-and-Work Ecosystem | Learn & Work Ecosystem Library