Some projects are best served by engaging in partnerships. There can be many reasons for partnering, but
Question:
Some projects are best served by engaging in partnerships. There can be many reasons for partnering, but primarily it is because the need or problem requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders. In some cases, a funder may look at organizational capacity and question whether staff has the experience and skills to carry out the project successfully. Other grants, depending on the nature of the RFP description, will specify partnerships. And some projects are simply too complex and wide ranging to even consider within a single organization. It is important to understand that the time to reach out to potential partners about opportunities to apply for grant funding is when a need is first identified at an organization. Those who reach out to brand new "partners" because they must in order to submit a proposal may find it doesn't work once the project is implemented. The barriers to successful partnerships can vary from lack of communication to hidden agendas.