How Partnerships Unlock Bigger Grants

A few years ago, I worked with two small nonprofits in the same neighborhood – one focused on youth development, the other on workforce readiness. They’d never collaborated before, even though their missions overlapped. Both were scraping together small program grants, each writing proposals that looked similar. Then one day, they decided to apply together.

The result? Their joint proposal didn’t just get funded – it landed a multi-year award that neither has previously secured. 

Why Collaboration Has Become Essential

Funders are changing how they think about impact. They’re looking for ecosystems, rather than isolated efforts. When they see collaboration, it tells them you understand that social challenges are interconnected. For example, education links to jobs, jobs link to housing, housing links to health.

Collaboration says: We’re thinking big. We’re connected. We’re humble enough to know we can’t do this alone.

It also reassures funders that your project is sustainable. If one partner faces staffing changes or funding cuts, the others can keep the work moving. You become less risky, more resilient.

What Strong Collaboration Actually Looks Like

True collaboration isn’t just “we’ll partner with X organization.” It’s about trust, clarity, and shared purpose.

I’ve seen collaborations fall apart because roles weren’t clear or one partner felt overshadowed. The most successful ones invest early in honest conversations:

• What’s everyone’s stake in this work?

• Who’s the lead on reporting and communication?

• How will we share credit and lessons learned?

  
  

It helps to put these things in writing. An MOU or a one-page agreement outlining how decisions are made helps guide the partnership. 

Starting Small and Building Trust

If partnership feels intimidating, start small. Host a joint event. Share training materials. Invite another organization to speak at your program graduation. These low-stakes collaborations help you build a track record together before tackling a major grant. Over time, shared experiences turn into shared credibility.

Collaboration is the new baseline for ambitious, community-centered work. The organizations that thrive over the next decade will be those that know how to partner well.