This study examines elements of collaborative research partnerships (CRPs) between university researchers and organisations who engage in knowledge mobilisation activities in education. The study uses key informant interviews and document analysis from one type of partnership, and a survey of university-community partnerships across Canada to explore this phenomenon. Findings demonstrate that working across university researchers and community organisations builds capacity for research use to inform decision making; CRPs are more informal than formal entities; how partners communicate is integral to their success; variance in partnership involvement does not impact the success of the partnership in goal meeting.