The work of sponsors and champions.

Sponsors and champions are distinct roles, each bringing unique benefits to a collaboration. Sponsors, while not usually involved in the day-to-day operations of the collaboration, provide prestige, access to networks, convening power, and can mobilize financial and non-financial resources to support the collaboration. The collaboration may enlist a sponsor to build perceptions of legitimacy and prestige, to develop relationships with constituencies or stakeholders that are key to the collaboration’s goals, or to gain access to additional financial and/or non-financial resources. Champions, who often are involved in the day-to-day operations of the collaboration, typically offer expertise on the issue targeted by the collaboration and/or processes that are critical to the collaboration’s effort. The collaboration may enlist a champion to provide needed expertise, increasing perceptions of credibility among partners and external stakeholders. If the collaboration does not involve sponsors or champions, it misses the opportunity to benefit from the unique influence, resources, and skills that these individuals and organizations provide, ultimately limiting its capacity.

“Reducing Gang Violence and Providing Youth Development in Los Angeles”

In 2007, Los Angeles had more than 700 individual gangs with 40,000 members. Nearly 75 percent of all youth gang homicides in California occurred in Los Angeles County. In response to the city’s gang crisis, the Advancement Project, a public policy change organization focused on civil rights issues, wrote a report providing a framework for how the city should approach gang reduction. Connie Rice, one of the founding directors, knew that without a powerful supporter, the report would be largely ignored by the city officials and residents. The Advancement Project sought and found an ally within the police department, Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton. Bratton called a press conference to endorse the Advancement Project’s “A Call to Action” report. His support and the flurry of media attention it created helped the Advancement Project appeal to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to begin supporting the issue. He eventually championed the creation of a Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) office, helping to remove governmental roadblocks and draw the public’s attention to the city’s new strategy for addressing gang violence.