12 common grant writing mistakes to avoid
Grant funding can be highly competitive, and even the most prepared organizations can face challenges. To boost your chances of success, it’s important to avoid common mistakes, such as applying before your organization is ready, not aligning with funders’ priorities, and unclear goals.
In this guide, we’ll cover 12 common mistakes to watch out for, helping you strengthen your grant proposals and increase your chances of securing funding.
1. Starting before you’re truly grant ready
Grant writing success depends on a well developed application from a well prepared organization. That means you should never start applying for grants before your organization is truly “grant ready.” Nonprofits and other organizations that do not have a robust fundraising plan outside of grant writing, for example, will struggle to win grants. There are lots of other considerations, too, when deciding if your organization is ready to apply and compete for grants.
2. Not aligning with the funder
All funders publish their priorities and interests when it comes to grant making. One of the biggest grant writing mistakes is to overlook certain details of these guidelines. It’s important to read a grantmaker’s guidelines, website, 990s, and any other published information carefully before applying. When in doubt, call the foundation to learn more about their priorities.
3. Writing weak goals and objectives
Goals and objectives are a critical part of any grant application. Therefore, you want to make sure you fully understand how to write this section, and write it well. Skimping on this section would be one of the biggest grant writing mistakes you can make. Here are some basics of goals and objectives to help you with this part of the grant application.
4. Failing to develop funder relationships
Developing strong funder relationships is a critical part of grant writing success. Long-term relationships mean long-term funding for your organization. This is especially true when it comes to foundation and corporate grant funding; less so for government grants. You have multiple opportunities to forge strong relationships with funders during the grant writing process. This includes calling the funder before you apply, keeping the funder informed of any changes at your organization, and following up if you do not receive the grant.
5. Insufficient research
Thorough research is the lifeline of successful grant proposals. This includes understanding the funder’s mission and previous grants, the needs of the community you serve, and statistical evidence to support your project.
6. Neglecting the budget details
The budget is a critical component of any grant proposal. It must be precise and realistic. You have to make sure every dollar requested is accounted for and justified in the narrative of your proposal.
7. Over-complicated language
A proposal that is difficult to read or filled with jargon will undoubtedly undermine your credibility. Use clear, concise, and compelling language to make your case.
8. Failing to plan for sustainability
Funders want to know that their investment will have a long-term impact. Failing to address how your project will continue after the grant ends is a significant oversight.
9. Using a generic proposal
Avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach. You must tailor each proposal to the specific funder and highlight how your project aligns with their values and goals.
10. Lack of proper evaluation methods
Your proposal should include a detailed plan for how success will be measured. This demonstrates accountability and commitment to achieving results.
11. Not providing supporting documentation
Strong letters of support and relevant endorsements greatly influence your proposal’s credibility. Not including these can be viewed as a lack of community or sector endorsement.
12. Rushing the submission
Lastly, you must always review your proposal multiple times and consider having an outsider critique it. This will help catch errors and improve clarity, ultimately increasing your chance of success.
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