The Pew Partnership works with local and national partners to design and implement new solutions to social problems, analyze local leadership for action, and research and disseminate cutting edge strategies for urban improvement. Interviews were conducted with 65 people in 9 communities participating in the Pew Partnership to examine their ways of looking at collaboration. Emerging from these interviews are eight key factors: (1) currency of ideas; (2) measuring success; (3) dimensions of diversity; (4) strong leadership; (5) working norms; (6) value of outsiders; (7) community relationship; and (8) community time. Taken together, these factors convey the importance of having a certain mindset that shapes a collaboration. Perspectives of the community leaders interviewed are reported for each of the eight factors. (SLD)