This monograph adds to the existing store of lessons learned about university-community partnerships by drawing upon the experience of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s Neighborhood Improvement Initiative. As part of the Initiative, neighborhoods in East Palo Alto and West Oakland formed multiyear partnerships with the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University and the Institute of Urban and Regional Development at UC Berkeley, respectively. These partnerships focus on technical assistance and support. The stories and examples throughout this monograph convey the challenges and opportunities of the partnerships. The lessons learned should be of value to community initiatives, universities, and the funders of such partnerships, whether foundations or government.