40+ Sample Collaboration Letters

What Is a Collaboration Letter?

When you want to partner with an individual, a company, or an institution on a shared project, collaboration letters help express your intentions clearly enough to deliver your message. The letter allows you to communicate your plans and open doors for discussions in hopes of bringing your business plan to the next level. When done right, it can help you win over a partnership for what could be the best business move for your company.

Why Collaboration Is Key in Business Survival

When you run a business, you always need to be on the lookout for something better. Popular brands are continually buzzing about new releases that they hope would make it big in the market. But even the best ideas can fail miserably with poor targeting. Businesses that want to see themselves succeed in their respective markets must understand the importance of collaborating with fellow brands and industry personalities. However, reaching out to new and evolving markets is far from easy, as many companies still struggle to keep themselves relevant in the eyes of consumers.

Getting others to collaborate on a project can also be a challenge, especially when other companies try to compete to stay afloat. Out of the 600 respondents surveyed by Statista, 98.5% of which give away product samples to influencers as an invitation to collaborate. However, this approach only helps initiate a collaboration, as there’s never a guarantee for an actual partnership until the other party responds favorably.

So, what do you have to do to make sure the collaboration happens?

You need to leave an impression that lasts. Grow your network. Explore your opportunities. Shoot your shot. The competition can be intimidating, so teaming up with another business that can bring value to your plans is vital to keep your business alive for as long as possible.

Five Iconic Business Collaborations to Inspire You

The rise and fall of the Jordan Brand is a story that many business experts have their opinions about. But anyone who grew up between 1984 and 2003 can attest to the success of Nike’s collaboration with former NBA player Michael Jordan. The launch helped Nike reinvent itself as a brand for athletic stars and become one of the leading sports brands for people of all ages.

While it’s true that collaborations don’t guarantee long-term success, there’s no denying the impact that a well-strategized partnership can bring to its market. So before you even think about throwing away the collaboration letter you just wrote, perhaps the following examples could shed some light on the benefits generated from some of the most unlikely partnerships.

McDonald’s + Hello Kitty

It all began in the year 2000 when McDonald’s introduced its first-ever collaboration with the famous Japanese toy company, Sanrio. No one would’ve anticipated the overwhelming response that the Dear Daniel and Hello Kitty figures would receive from the public. The partnership managed to sell a total of 2.8 million toys for all six designs released, which then led to similar promotions more than a decade after the first. In 2013, McDonald’s came out with a new batch of Hello Kitty plush toys that started another buying frenzy in selected fast-food outlets across the globe. It’s safe to say that McDonald’s made the best marketing plan move by embracing Sanrio’s beloved character to help promote the brand to different audiences.

Pixar (Ed Catmull + Steve Jobs + John Lasseter)

We all recognize Steve Jobs for his revolutionary contributions to the tech giant, Apple. But how old were you when you found out that Jobs was also associated with the famous animation studio behind hit films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Wall-E?

Although Pixar struggled to break the market during its early years, the wait was well worth it when Disney expressed its interest in funding the company’s first feature film. The gamble proved to be a success after obtaining box office numbers that made Pixar the household name that it is today. Jobs eventually left Pixar as a very wealthy man to continue what he started with Apple, leaving Catmull and Lasseter to run the studio. The whole story of Pixar might be an odd one, but it’s a collaboration that certainly made animation history.

And it does make you wonder, what if these three never crossed paths?

Spotify + Uber

Both Spotify and Uber established themselves in their respective markets thanks to their innovative solutions to problems that tormented the industry years before. So, it only made sense for the two companies to partner on a new venture directed toward better customer experience. This collaboration enabled customers to connect their playlists to an Uber ride through their Spotify accounts. Allowing customers to personalize their ride experience helped boost the two brands up the leaderboard of tech start-ups, particularly because the idea was unique and modern. Not only did it draw more Uber users to Spotify, but it also made everyday commutes more bearable to customers.

UNICEF + Target

In Target’s mission to promote wellness among the youth, the company took a philanthropic strategy by teaming with UNICEF for the Kid Power Band, a wearable fitness device designed for children. Apart from donating a part of the proceeds to the program, kids can also participate in the mission by earning points from activities and challenges. Corporate sponsors may then convert these points to lifesaving packets for severely malnourished children around the world. The way this collaboration focuses on healthy living and positivity for children from both sides of the spectrum proves just how important the initiative can be from for-profit and nonprofit perspective.

Adidas + Kanye West

It’s impossible to talk about groundbreaking business collaborations without making any reference to the most notable partnership ever formed between an athletic brand and a non-athlete.

We’re talking about the million-dollar empire that continues to break the internet with every release—YEEZY.

Not many people seem to remember how Kanye first collaborated with Nike for his line of footwear. However, this partnership failed to last as long as investors had hoped for after the brand failed to settle on a collaboration agreement that worked both ways. Fortunately, Adidas stepped in to address the rapper’s demands, leading to the birth of the Adidas + Kanye West alliance in 2013. YEEZY went on to become one of the most influential brands ever to exist, selling out both online and in stores.

How Do You Write a Collaboration Letter?

Need to make a collaboration letter to deliver your pitch? Consider the following guidelines in writing.

1. Do Your Research

Unfortunately, 70% of business partnerships end up in a disaster due to conflict between partners. Companies make the weak move of collaborating without fully understanding what they’re about to get themselves into.

You don’t want to pitch for a collaboration with a brand you know very little about. It’s essential to understand what these companies bring to the table before investing in a new business venture. How much you know about a company’s strategies, audience, and accomplishments will matter in developing a project plan. This can help increase your chances of moving forward with the partnership, as you make an effort to assess the needs of your prospects and find out whether they align with your proposed idea. By doing so, you also minimize the risk of failing.

2. Emphasize the Needs & Challenges of the Partner

Like you, your potential business partner likely has challenges that it hopes to resolve by designing better strategies. You can consider this as an opportunity to play the hero in the story by stating how your business can help address these problems accordingly. While it’s never easy to entice a company that has its own objectives to attain, the least you can do is draw them to your pitch by adapting your ideas to a common smart goal. Maintaining a positive tone as you discuss these matters will also make your proposal sound more inviting to prospects.

3. Outline the Benefits of the Project

Some of today’s most prominent brands receive dozens of proposal letters for promising collaborations, but not many of them are capable of making a lasting impression on a prospective partner. That’s because words alone aren’t very reliable, nor are they enough to make an impact on one’s decision to collaborate. If you want to work together with a business on a project, you need to show them why engaging in a partnership is worth the investment. Facts and figures are always a plus when establishing credibility. That way, you can assure collaborators that your ideas have the power to generate favorable outcomes for all parties involved.

4. Keep It Personal

Focusing on the potential partnership might be the main point of making the proposal letter, but it does help to showcase what you are capable of when it comes to business growth as well. A brief introduction to your company, the struggles you surpassed, and the plans you have for the future provide a glimpse of the value your business can offer to the collaboration. Being open about the vision and mission statement of your business could be a driving factor to make them want to be a part of your journey.

5. Don’t Give Away Too Many Details

As much as you want to talk about your plans for the project, the last thing you’ll want to do is to disclose information that the supposed partner could use as a competitive advantage. A business can easily steal an idea from you and call it their own without giving you credit, especially if you aren’t careful about who you approach with your plans. Instead, you can use the letter to open a discussion about future endeavors together. It should be persuasive enough to encourage a personal meeting with a potential partner, giving you the chance to elevate your pitch and leave a better impression. Thus, business letters like this must be short and straightforward to get your point across effectively.

Even the most talented entrepreneurs know the importance of teamwork. You can be the most successful business in town and still need the help of another company to branch out and grow as a company. Collaborating with other artists, businesses, and experts is essential for you to evolve into something better. And even if you could fail, it’s a risk you’ll be able to learn from as you continue making smarter decisions for your business. So if you want to try your luck with a business partnership proposal but don’t know which path to take, begin with a collaboration letter.