When developing your funding application, there may be opportunities to collaborate with other organisations and individuals to ensure you deliver optimal outcomes.

The decision to collaborate will depend on the:

• Proposed solution/project
• Funding application guidelines (see Organisational Compliance regarding eligibility criteria)
• Funding body's expectations.

ALWAYS check the funding application guidelines to see if you are able to explore collaborative opportunities.

IF IN DOUBT, contact the funding body to seek clarification.

Choosing A Collaborative Partner

When identifying organisations or individuals for potential collaboration with consider if:

• You share common ideologies, interests and ways of working
• There is shared respect
• You have clear expectations about what each organisation:
  • Brings to the collaboration
  • Hopes to get from the collaboration 
• You have processes in place to work through potential conflicts (see Building Relationships).

Identify key people from your respective organisations and establish a small working group to:

• Identify and allocate the key writing tasks
• Assign a key person to coordinate the development of the funding application
• Schedule regular meetings to review and dis
• Assign overall responsibility to one person to submit the funding application.

The Building Relationships section also contains advice and guidance on partnering and building effective relationships with other organsations.

References & Resources

• Australian Government Department of Social Services. (2007).Partnering with Community Organisations: A Toolkit for Small to Medium Sized Businesses. Canberra: ACT. Although this toolkit is designed for businesses partnering with community organisations, it also has applicability for alcohol and other drug organisations working with others
• Hunt, J. (2013). Engagement with Indigenous Communities in Key Sectors. Resource sheet no. 23. Produced for the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse
• National Congress of Australia's First Peoples. (2013). Principles for a Partnership-Centred Approach for NGOs Working with Aboriginal Organisations and Communities in the Northern Territory. Downloaded from http://nationalcongress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/NGOPrinciples.pdf
• National Resource Center. (2010). Partnerships: Frameworks for Working Together. Downloaded from The Strengthening Nonprofits: A Capacity Builder’s Resource Library Website http://strengtheningnonprofits.org/resources/guidebooks/Partnerships.pdf
• New South Wales Department of Community Services. (2009). Working with Aboringinal People and Communities. A Practice Resource. New South Wales Department of Community Services, Ashfield: NSW
• Tennyson, R. (2011).The Partnering Toolbook (4th ed). International Business Leaders Forum. Dowloaded from http://www.nada.org.au/media/25076/partnering-toolbook-en-20113__2_.pdf
• The Center for Nonprofit Excellence Website contains checklists, tools for successful collaborations, and tips on successful relationships
• The Good Project Website. (2013).The Good Collaboration Toolkit: An Approach to Building, Sustaining, and Carrying out Successful Collaboration. Downloaded from http://thegoodproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Good-Collaboration-Tlkt-v3_Edited-2.pdf
• The Mental Health Coordinating Council Website. The Seven Stages of Partnership Development. Downloaded from http://www.mhcc.org.au/sector-development/promoting-partnerships/7-stages-of-partnership-development.aspx
• VicHealth. (2011). The Partnership Analysis Tool and Checklist. Downloaded from http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Publications/VicHealth-General-Publications/Partnerships-Analysis-Tool.aspx
• Victorian Department of Human Services. (2010).Sharing Strengths. How Community Organisations Can Work Together to Access Information and Support Services. Office for the Community Sector Department of Planning and Community Development: Melbourne

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