A growing number of charter schools are being designed, launched, and operated by community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs). This resource guide is intended to target a priority technical assistance need: creating and sustaining a healthy relationship between a new charter school and a founding community organization, leading to the creation and operation of a highly successful school. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to CBO-linked charter schools with several examples that capture the breadth and significance of this important and far-reaching development. Chapter 2 describes the motivation of CBOs that have chosen to get involved in the startup of charter schools and provides information about preplanning activities. Chapter 3 offers guidance on how to structure the charter-school planning process. Chapter 4 explores the different types of relationships that CBOs and charter schools are forming. Chapter 5 delineates characteristics of successful partnerships and discusses a number of proven strategies for overcoming turf issues and other barriers to effective collaboration between CBOs and charter schools. Finally, chapter 6 includes a selected list of organizations, publications, Web sites, and other resources that will be of great use to community-based nonprofit organizations interested in launching charter schools. (RT)