By Christina Fernandez, Grants Development Associate (Higher Education)
Partnerships play a huge role in the success of a grant application. They can provide new perspectives, resources, and a competitive edge. Below, you’ll find answers to a series of questions about partnerships and how to navigate them.
Why are partnerships so important to grant funders?
A majority of grants require some sort of partnership to be considered for an award. Funders view partnerships as a way to engage broader audiences, increase institutional capacity, fill knowledge gaps, and maximize the effectiveness of a project. By engaging in relevant partnerships , funders see that you are taking a holistic approach to achieve the goals of the grant. Partnerships also show that your organization is sustainable and cooperative.
When should I start thinking about partnerships?
It is important to start thinking about partnerships even if you do not have a specific project idea in mind. Engaging with local community partners will give you insight into the true needs of the community. Approaching community members or potential partners early on gives them enough time to properly respond and gives you the flexibility to continue your search in case some or all of them say no. Engaging with community partners beforehand will also provide time to brainstorm new ideas or to hone in on a specific idea. Doing this heavy lifting early on will ultimately save you time during the grant application process. Competitive grants can sometimes take 4-8 weeks to develop. You don’t want to wait until you’re up against an application deadline to start engaging/thinking about these relationships.
Where do I find partners?
You first want to consider people and organizations that you already know, either professionally or personally. Someone in your life may also be trying to accomplish the same activity in their own organization. These initial conversations can be as informal as a phone call or email. The goal is to gauge if you have similar interests and values, and if they are interested in your project. If you are part of a larger organization, there may even be an office or department in charge of networking, in which case you will want to start conversations internally to see where the potential lies. If you are unable to find partners through your office or your own personal network, then try attending community board meetings or events. This engagement will have the added benefit of networking AND gauging community needs.
Who would be a good partner for my project?
Depending on your project goals and the grant objectives, you should strive to include partnerships with community members who will be impacted by the project. Community members can range from Local Education Agencies (LEAs), colleges and universities, law enforcement/first responders, industry/for-profit agencies, nonprofit organizations, rural end-users, etc.… Be intentional about who you approach and clear about why you want them to be a part of the project. To help decipher who would be a good partner, think about what role they will play in the project, who their audiences are and how will they broaden participation, will they be engaged and able to meet deadlines, and do they have any existing resources that could benefit the project. A good partnership should benefit and aid with the overall goals of your project.
What do I do after I have made meaningful partnerships?
Now that you have a strong set of partners, make sure you are keeping them engaged and involved throughout the entire grant process. Consider setting up meetings throughout the grant period to talk about progress or improvements and engage them in each step of the process. An easy way to keep them involved is by assigning roles, expectations, and a timeline for each partner involved. Grant funders require you to document a partners’ role and commitment in the project AND it is a great way to ensure transparency and clarity of what is expected from everyone.
Finding good partners can be time consuming and stressful but also very rewarding and fulfilling. They will make your grant proposal much more competitive and bring new perspectives and resources to your project. Good communication and transparency are key to creating and maintaining successful grant partnerships.