Institutional diversity is a great strength of the American higher education system. At times, however, this diversity has acted as a barrier to institutional partnerships for outreach and community service. This paper discusses the findings of a study that examined the perceptions of leaders from different sectors of the higher education community regarding factors affecting interinstitutional agreements and consortia. The findings indicate that different types of institutions can identify common and divergent issues to more effectively form partnerships for community service. Recommendations are presented, particularly regarding non-traditional collaboration for outreach and community service functions.