One of the hardest calls in federal funding happens when you realize another organization in your community is also applying for the same opportunity. 

Here is the situation. A capable nonprofit is preparing a strong federal application. A longtime community partner currently holds a similar grant and also plans to pursue the funding opportunity. If your organization decides to pursue the opportunity, the two organizations become direct competitors with overlapping geographic impact: they will both be proposing to serve the same community.

If your organization steps back, a real community need goes unmet (the whole reason you were pursuing the funding opportunity in the first place!). But if you pursue it and win, you worry your partner might feel like you “stole their grant.” 

Your relationships, your mission, the potential impact, and the funding are all on the table at once. And you have to make a decision fast, because the funding opportunity closes in four weeks. 

It is worth slowing down, because the instinct to soften the conflict usually makes it worse.