The authors report on the findings of a national survey of city officials a
nd executive directors of nonprofit organizations that was conducted by the
National League of Cities in 1998 to gain a better understanding of the wa
ys in which community-based organizations (CBOs) and city governments are w
orking together to reduce poverty and revitalize neighborhoods. The finding
s are mixed. Although collaboration between city governments and CBOs is fa
irly widespread, in most communities, the "thin" version of collaboration r
eported may not produce the beneficial outcomes suggested by some proponent
s of collaboration. Although both city and CBO officials acknowledge the im
portance and value of collaborative approaches to reducing poverty and revi
talizing neighborhoods, investments in capacity building and community-base
d strategic planning may be needed before the benefits of collaboration can
be fully realized in most communities.