Consortium Grant MoU Kit: Build Strong Partnerships Fast
Collaborative bids unlock bigger funds—but only if every partner knows their role before submission. This consortium grant MoU kit helps you clarify governance, budgets, safeguarding, and delivery with a template funders recognise.
TL;DR
- Capture roles, responsibilities, and decision rights before drafting the application.
- Agree budgets, data sharing, and safeguarding clauses in a standardised MoU template.
- Link the signed MoU to Crafty so AI-generated answers reflect the partnership truth.
Why do funders insist on consortium MoUs?
Funders like the National Lottery Community Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund require formal agreements that show how partners will share delivery, data, and risk. NCVO’s Partnership Guidance (2024) emphasises clarity on liabilities and safeguarding. Without an MoU, you risk grant officers questioning leadership and governance during due diligence.
What clauses should a grant consortium MoU include?
Your MoU should cover governance, delivery roles, budget allocations, data protection, safeguarding, risk, branding, and dispute resolution. Use the table below as a checklist.
| Clause | What it covers | Primary owner | Review cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governance & decision-making | Steering group composition, voting rights, escalation routes | Lead org CEO | Quarterly |
| Delivery responsibilities | Work packages, KPIs, staffing commitments | Programme directors | Quarterly |
| Budget & payment terms | Funding split, match, invoicing, reserves | Finance leads | Bi-annually |
| Data protection & safeguarding | DPIA, consent, incident response | Designated safeguarding leads | Bi-annually |
| Dispute resolution & exit | Mediation, termination, IP ownership | Legal advisors | Annually |
How do you run the MoU drafting process quickly?
Start with a 90-minute MoU workshop using our kick-off agenda. Assign clause owners, set deadlines, and use collaborative editing in Google Docs or Word. The NCVO partnership guidance (2024) recommends reviewing responsibilities early to avoid conflict later.
Workflow tips
- Use version control—track changes and comment threads.
- Capture risk updates in your audit readiness plan.
- Store the signed MoU in your audit evidence pack.
How does Crafty use the MoU to improve responses?
Upload the MoU to Crafty’s knowledge base. The AI references lead roles, budgets, and governance automatically when drafting consortium questions, avoiding conflicting answers across partners. Pair it with the portal survival guide for multi-partner submissions.
Download the kit and next steps
Download the MoU template (Word + Google Docs), clause checklist, and workshop deck. Schedule your consortium workshop within the next fortnight and set a signature deadline before drafting.
Next actions
- Populate the template with partner details and agree responsibilities.
- Secure legal review and collect signatures.
- Upload the MoU to Crafty and tag it to relevant question templates.
Key takeaways
- Funders expect clear consortium agreements before approving collaborative bids.
- A modular MoU template speeds up drafting and keeps roles crystal clear.
- Crafty leverages the MoU to keep multi-partner responses aligned.
Summary and next steps
A strong MoU is the scaffolding that holds consortium bids together. Invest the time upfront, and you’ll avoid disputes, rework, and funder jitters later.
- Use the kit to align partners on governance, responsibilities, and finances.
- Update the agreement annually or when programmes shift.
- Keep the signed MoU alongside delivery trackers and risk registers for audit readiness.