5 Ways to Make Your Grant Request Stronger

Why was our organization's grant application declined?

A declined grant is highly disappointing. Especially when you may have spent countless hours collecting information and writing a proposal. So when you’re sure that your nonprofit organization’s project is worthy, or perhaps you even know of several other organizations that have received funding for similar projects, why was your funding request declined? 

One of the reasons applications are declined is because often grantmakers have fixed or limited budgets, so they simply cannot approve all of the requests for funding. Grant funding is competitive and many organizations are vying for the same funds, so it is important that your organization submits the strongest application possible to improve your chances of successfully securing funding.

How to create a stronger grant application

So, what can we do to create stronger and more competitive proposals? And perhaps more importantly, how do we create a strong application while maximizing the time of staff and volunteers? Some organizations may have the resources to hire a full-time grant writer; however, that is not feasible for most grassroots nonprofits.

So, that’s why we're sharing five tips for creating stronger grant applications.

1. Ensure your project is eligible. While this may sound obvious, one of the main reasons that grant applications are declined is because the application goals do not align with the goals of the funder. For example, if a funder’s focus area is environmental initiatives, and your project is to create a four week art program for budding artists, there’s a good chance that the project will not be a good fit. Take the time to do your research, and if possible, contact the funder to discuss your project first to confirm it is within their area of support. This is crucial to ensure that staff and volunteer time is not wasted on a proposal that will likely not be successful.

2. Write clearly and plainly. Another common reason that grant applications are declined is because the proposal is difficult to understand. To create a clear and strong application, take time to review your writing and ensure that it makes sense to even someone outside of your organization. Also, ensure you avoid overly technical language, acronyms, or jargon. If your current team is not confident in writing applications, consider recruiting a volunteer or staff person with skills that can help with grant writing, or even review what someone else has written to ensure it is clear and concise.

3. Be persuasive. This is your chance to pull at the funder’s heart strings. A compelling application is important to rally the funder’s support for your project. Take time to explain the problem your organization’s mission addresses, and share examples of your past successes. If your organization has a case for support, use that language to help guide you. Grantmakers need enough information to clearly understand the purpose of your project, and how it will make a difference.

4. Pay attention to your budget. Your budget is a very important part of the grant application. Ideally, you must carefully walk the line of sharing your need for financial support, while also demonstrating that your organization is a sound investment. A well thought out budget will show the funder that your organization can effectively manage the money if awarded the grant. To create a strong grant budget, ensure your costs are realistic and well researched.

5. Follow the application format. Funders can receive  hundreds of requests per grant application, so they will often automatically decline applications that do not follow their specifications. Ensure you research the funder’s website to ensure you know what is required. For example, is there a PDF application? An online application? Do they require a letter of intent? Knowing what is required in advance can help to manage staff time by ensuring you submit the correct materials. 

Keep working at it

Writing grants and proposals takes practice. Sometimes you might do everything right, but still find your project is declined. It can happen to even the most seasoned grant writers with years of experience. Keep at it, and you will find that by incorporating these tips you will have better grant writing success.

If you are new to grant writing and looking for a guide to help you, we’ve created a digital Grant Toolkit. This workbook can help you prepare and organize key information based on commonly asked grant questions, and help you identify where you have gone wrong in the past and how to improve.