Explain the benefits of collaborating with others when developing ...

[armygirl]

Explain the benefits of collaborating with others when developing a grant proposal.

Question 2

List several questions that can help grant seekers decide whether to compete for a grant from a particular grant sponsor, and explain how these questions are relevant.

[bob]

Answer to Question 1

It is possible to complete the work in some grant proposals alone, but one person usually does not have all the expertise or time needed to complete all the proposed tasks. Collaboration is the rule rather than the exception. Collaborators may come from within the grant seeker's organization or from outside. Collaboration with other organizations is important when one organization lacks expertise in an area vital to the proposal. Collaborating may be critical to success for novice grant seekers or those who are changing their focus. It can greatly improve a proposed project. A well-conceived and well-managed collaboration plan gives grant seekers the opportunity to assemble a team that can effectively and efficiently achieve the project goals. The best collaborators are those who know what is expected of them and when, are excited about and committed to the project, and are willing to follow through on all their responsibilities related to the project.

Answer to Question 2

Among the questions that can help grant seekers decide whether to compete for a grant are:
 Do the grant sponsor's funding priorities include the project's goals? There needs to be a definite match here to better position your proposal for funding.
 Are sufficient grant funds available for the grant seeker's organization to achieve the goals in a successful and timely manner? If grant funds combined with resources from the grant seeker's organization and partners are insufficient, the likelihood of achieving the goals is very low.
 What will this grant sponsor fund, and is that what is needed? If the grant sponsor is not able to support those needs, the grant objectives cannot be achieved.
 Who is eligible to apply for the grant? If the grant seeker's organization is not eligible, an alternative may be to collaborate with another organization that is.
 Can the grant seeker's organization meet any special requirements of the grant sponsor? If not, then, other funding sources will need to be considered.
 When is the grant application due and can the grant seeking organization respond in time? Many times, grant proposals received after the due date are discarded and hastily, poorly-completed proposals reflect negatively on the organization.
 What are the guidelines for writing this proposal, including any specific forms or format required? For success, it is essential that the grant seekers follow all guidelines, forms, and formats exactly.
 Is information available on the types of projects the sponsor has funded in the past? If so, review those to get an idea of what the funding agency values.
 What are the credentials of the grant reviewers? Knowing the reviewers' level of expertise can help grant seekers determine the level of detail and documentation to use in their proposal.
 Is it possible to contact the sponsor before preparing the proposal? This could save time and money and lead to a better written proposal.