Five Ways Partnerships Strengthen Your Proposals

Stop, collaborate, and listen.

Fans of 90s music likely recognize these Vanilla Ice lyrics. Besides being part of a catchy tune, these three words describe a concept that can have significant implications for grant funding success. Applying for external funding can be a complex process, especially for federal programs that may have several phases and a hundred different requirements.  

While designing a cohesive project and navigating the application process as the sole applicant may seem simpler, consider the benefits of collaborating with other stakeholders to strengthen your application. Here are five reasons to collaborate: 

1. Demonstrates commitment.  

Collaborating with external partners, including industry experts and other organizations, offers valuable insights and resources to effectively address the needs outlined in a proposal. This collaborative effort can significantly strengthen and enhance the viability of your proposal. Moreover, garnering support from key stakeholders, such as community leaders and subject matter experts, not only lends credibility to your proposal but also underscores its potential for successful implementation.  

2. Reflects long-term sustainability.  

Funders aim to maximize their investment and consider the project's impact when reviewing applications. Grant collaborations include multiple stakeholders working together to ensure the project's success. Sharing the effort and risk within grant partnerships will demonstrate the project's success and sustainability. 

3. Includes diverse perspectives. 

Engaging with external partners to tackle a specific need or issue provides an opportunity to draw upon diverse perspectives, enabling informed decision-making and innovative solutions. Leveraging diverse perspectives can lead to a more comprehensive and compelling proposal.  

4. Increased efficiency. 

Collaborating on grants is a highly effective strategy that can improve outcomes. By pooling resources, expertise, and technology, multiple parties can boost efficiency and success, making the most of project resources. Furthermore, you can quicken the progression of the application by delegating each requirement based on each team member’s prior experience and current role in the project.  

5. Strengthened relationships. 

Working together with other stakeholders extends far beyond a single grant project. It has the power to enhance connections and make a lasting impact. For example, teaming up with an academic institution can greatly benefit workforce development in neighboring areas. Working with a local nonprofit can expand your project's outreach and introduce your efforts to new communities. These collaborations can shape industry recruitment and retention by establishing career pathways and offering valuable job training. Developing strong relationships can have positive effects long after a project concludes. 

Before you submit your next grant proposal, stop to consider if your project should involve external stakeholders, collaborate with external partners, and listen to leverage diverse perspectives, expertise, and strengths that can contribute to the project's success. Do not underestimate the advantages of grant collaborations! A strong proposal will reflect your ability to engage other stakeholders to address a common need and a shared commitment to achieving the project outcomes.