By Dr. Lori Brown 

A nonprofit partnering with a for-profit organization in pursuit of grant funds? It may sound strange, considering that for-profits maintain a continuous, internal profit-generating structure and usually aren't eligible to apply for grants. But the concept merits consideration for nonprofit grant seekers with a vision for change.

With a nonprofit as the grant applicant and fiscal agent, for-profit organizations can play a significant role in successful grant pursuits. For-profit organizations bring skills and talents to the table, enhancing nonprofit capacity and the strength of the grant partnership in four key areas:

Cash and Fiscal Stability

Many grants, particularly U.S. Department of Education programs (e.g., i3 or Race to the Top), require grant seekers to provide matching funds. Additionally, many funding agencies want the lead nonprofit applicant to put some cash on the table to show investment in the project. But nonprofits are "non" for a reason -- they lack profit. Partnering with a for-profit organization can fill this gap with a cash match from a reliable, credible, and stable source.

Human Resources

For-profits can provide other resources to their nonprofit grant partners, namely, skills and expertise. Compared to nonprofits, for-profits employ larger numbers of people, making a deeper well of talent available to a nonprofit organization. Large for-profits commonly have multiple teams of vice presidents and directors, all with varied expertise and experience. Their backgrounds can add value to the project design.

Research and Evaluation Capacity

For-profits can also provide valuable resources to their nonprofit grant partners through research and development divisions and/or internal evaluation teams. R&D groups are often on the cutting edge of new concepts or products nearing the completion stage, perhaps giving a nonprofit partner the opportunity to pilot never-before-seen instruments, surveys, etc. Additionally, the visionary research efforts of a large for-profit organization can boost the visibility and vision of the nonprofit, as outsiders recognize that the nonprofit has unprecedented access to new instruments, products, or resources. Partnerships between for- and nonprofits can add innovation and excitement to grant projects.

Grant Guidance and Writing Assistance

Partnerships with for-profits may also yield grant writing resources. Many for-profit organizations have grant research and writing divisions. These divisions track federal funding, help clients identify local funds, and study prior winning applications for what works, while frequently assisting the grant writing process.

For nonprofits, the fact that for-profit organizations make a profit isn't a bad thing for grant partnerships; it can be truly beneficial. Besides providing much needed cash matches, for-profits can contribute experience and expertise to the project design, help with grant writing, and boost the visibility of the nonprofit.  

Dr. Lori Brown is Senior Proposal Writer at Pearson School Achievement Services. You may contact her at news@grantproseinc.com. 

Need stats for your grant proposal on how U.S. education compares with education in other countries? As part of its International Activities Program, the National Center for Education Statistics provides several tools online. Assessments and surveys include performance assessments of students in reading, mathematics, science, and civic education, as well as adult literacy. The International Data Explorer provides student results in math, reading, and science; users can choose criteria to generate reports specific to year, subject, country, and several variables. FAQs also provide links to information on study abroad for U.S. students and degree equivalencies.

Visit the GrantProse Resources page to take advantage of free guides and videos to help you in your grant writing, including two new additions:  

• Common Characteristics of Grants. What exactly IS a grant? This 14-minute YouTube video discusses the conceptual basics.  
• Starting a Grant Writing Business. Thinking of branching out on your own and not sure where to start? This PDF offers lots of tips and considerations.