Collaborating with a Grant Team
Many grant applications are stronger when a team is working together. There are two
primary types of grant teams:
1. A team of internal individuals working on the same project together. They all work for
the same institution and each fulfill different roles.
2. 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.
