What Separates Successful Grants From Grants That Get Rejected?

Imagine you're on a mission to make a significant impact with your nonprofit, and the key to unlocking this potential lies in your next grant proposal.

But what truly sets apart a winning application from one that's overlooked?

This article dives into the crucial factors that elevate your grant proposal from good to great.

There are several elements that separate successful grants from unsuccessful grants, or grants that do not result in funding.

1. Clear and Concise Objectives

Including clear and concise objectives is vital to the success of any grant proposal.

Grant reviewers should be able to easily comprehend your program objectives and how those objectives ladder up to the overall mission of your organization. You should avoid jargon and wordiness to ensure that any reader can comprehend the goals of your proposal.

For example, a clear and concise grant objective could be:

“Nonprofit Organization ABC will provide over 1,000 individuals with safe, stable housing”.

2. Comprehensive Research and Preparation

When writing any grant proposal, it’s important to carefully research and identify the funder’s:

• Background
• Grantmaking guidelines
• Mission and priorities

Skimming the RFP simply won’t cut it!
‍

Making certain that your program or nonprofit fits within the funder’s guidelines is the first step to achieving positive results and submitting a winning grant proposal.

Instrumentl is a vital tool for researching grantmaking agencies. You can look up thousands of detailed funder profiles within its database.

‍

3. Detailed Budget and Resource Allocation

Winning grant proposals also include detailed budgets.

A grant proposal can include the most persuasive narrative but will still be unsuccessful with a weak or missing budget. Grantmakers want to be sure you have a strategic plan in place for how you will allocate their funding.

The more specific your budget is, the better. You can use these grant budget examples and templates to get started.

4. Strong Evidence and Justification

One of the first questions a grant application might ask is, “Why does this organization deserve an award over its competitors?”
‍

A strong grant proposal will need to provide compelling evidence and justification for that.

This evidence is often included in your grant proposal’s statement of need. A compelling proposal will include studies, reports, and other proof to justify the need for funding.

5. Engaging and Cohesive Narrative

A winning grant proposal should also include a compelling and engaging narrative.

Your proposal should tell a cohesive story with a beginning, middle, and end that draws the reader in with impactful details. You can also include participant stories and anecdotes in your proposal to connect the funder to your mission.

For inspiration, you can check out these nonprofit storytelling examples.

6. Proper Formatting and Adherence to Guidelines

It’s essential to follow the RFP’s guidelines to a tee in a grant proposal.

For instance, if the RFP requires specific formatting (such as the inclusion of a bibliography or making the document double-spaced), missing this information could automatically disqualify your nonprofit from receiving the reward.

For an example of an RFP process with explicit, detailed instructions, you can review the grant guidelines for the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago’s Impact Fund.

‍

1. Vague Intentions

A less effective grant proposal will include language and content that is too vague or too general for readers to understand the intent of the proposal.

Like we mentioned earlier, grant proposals should include clear objectives and a precise purpose.

2. Limited Insight

Ineffective grant proposals don’t align with the values, priorities, and mission of the funder.

Limited insight into the needs and priorities of the funding agency will result in a weaker proposal. Remember—diligent research is vital to crafting a strong grant proposal. The more insight a grant writer has into the funder the stronger the proposal will be.

3. Ambiguous Financial Plans

Nothing is more likely to turn a funder away than providing ambiguous financial plans.

Unclear financials might indicate to a funder that your nonprofit does not have the capacity to effectively manage a grant or—worse yet—is not trusted to manage finances in general.

Remember, all successful grant proposals should include a detailed budget with very clear line items and accompanying explanations for how these expenses will contribute to the success of your program.

4. Unsupported Claims

Unsupported claims without evidence from authoritative sources is an immediate red flag for most funders.

Successful grant proposals are supported by evidence from trusted sources such as studies, reports, or articles from reputable institutions.

For example, let’s pretend you are applying for a grant for your nonprofit that supports people experiencing homelessness. Even if you have a really good feeling that the community has seen increases in its unhoused population, do not simply state that. You need to have evidence or support to back that claim up.

For guidance on how to cite sources and begin research on a variety of issues, visit this how-to guide from North Hennepin Community College.

‍

5. Disjointed Presentation

Do not forget to stay organized! A disjointed grant proposal can confuse funders and weaken its impact.

Be sure that your grant proposal flows in a manner that will make sense to the reader. You should always introduce new concepts and begin with the basics (such as an organization overview or executive summary) when beginning your grant proposal.

No funder will be willing to fund a program or organization that they do not understand.

6. Carelessness

Even if you put dedicated effort into developing a strong grant proposal, that can all be wiped away by careless mistakes.

It can be easy for a grant writer to forget an attachment or leave in a few typos.

Always make sure that your grant proposals are reviewed both by yourself and by other individuals at your organization prior to submission. A solid review or a second set of eyes can save you, so be sure to give yourself the time to do so.

In summary, mastering the craft of grant writing is pivotal for the success of your nonprofit.

A successful grant proposal is more than a funding request; it's a showcase of your organization's vision and potential.

By focusing on clear objectives, detailed planning, and a persuasive narrative, your proposal can effectively capture the funder's attention and support.

To continue learning, check out our extensive guide that walks through exactly how to write a winning grant application.