Collaborating with a Grant Team
Many grant applications are stronger when a team is working together. There are two primary types of grant teams:
A team of internal individuals working on the same project together. They all work for the same institution and each fulfill different roles.
A team of external organizations working together on the same project. Each organization brings different tools and resources to the grant work.
Often, the larger the grant, the more desire the funder will have to see a collaboration between multiple organizations. A collaboration widens the impact of the grant funds. However, this is not always a requirement. Instead, it is important to make sure you consider the funders’ objectives when determining if a collaborative grant application is appropriate. Secondly, you will want to evaluate your project goals to see if they are best met with a team approach. It is also important to be aware of both the positive and negative aspects of a collaborative approach to grant work.
Positives include diversity of ideas and skills, support, camaraderie, and possible mentorship.
Drawbacks to a collaborative approach to grant work include the loss of autonomy, possibly not being the first author on research publications, and potential disagreements among team members.
If you determine collaboration with a grant team is best for your project then consider the following:
For internal collaborations it is important to identify people with the capacity to take on grant work. Furthermore, any individuals that are part of the team also need to fully understand the project and what expectations they are expected to meet. As with internal collaborations, with external collaborations it is important to identify people with the capacity to take on grant work. Furthermore, any individuals that are part of the team also need to fully understand the project and what expectations they are expected to meet.
The difference with external collaborations is that the organization itself also needs to have the capacity and alignment of vision for the grantwork. To begin locating your team ask the following questions:
What is the organization’s track record with grants?
What skills will the individuals in the organization bring to the grant?
What resources does the organization bring to the grant?
Do individuals have a collaborative mentality?
Collaboration in grant work can be very rewarding. It can also be taxing if visions and goals are not aligned. We encourage you to explore what is best for you and your grant project. Reach out to us if you need any help!