August 19, 2025
The Impact Issue #75: Why You’re Getting Rejected & What To Do About It
Learn how to turn your rejections into opportunities.
Hi!
Rejections are bound to happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to like them.
However, if you approach them with an open mind (once the sting wears off), you can actually learn a lot.
This week’s edition is all about rejection: why it happens, what to do about it, and how to prevent it from (hopefully) happening again.
Welcome to The Impact.
Don’t Miss Out
Federal grants are changing... again.
A new Executive Order introduced sweeping reforms to how federal grants are reviewed, awarded, and managed. From new eligibility restrictions to stricter reporting requirements and priority shifts, these changes will significantly impact how organizations pursue and secure federal funding.
On August 20th, join federal grants expert Tonia Brown-Kinzel and Instrumentl for a timely briefing on the biggest changes, their practical implications, and how to remain competitive under the new rules.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Moving on Too Quickly From Rejection
It doesn’t feel great to get rejected, especially if you were really counting on that grant.
Once you realize you’ve been rejected, you might be tempted to stop reading the letter entirely and just move on.
However, grant rejection letters can often tell you a lot, but only if you let them. Moving on too quickly risks missing important information that can help you with your next application.
💡 Pointer: Take the Time to Learn From Your Rejection
Once you get past the initial disappointment that you didn’t get the grant, there’s a lot you can still learn.
Here are tips to help you navigate the rejection effectively:
- Ask for detailed feedback. If you didn’t receive clear feedback during your initial rejection, reach out to the funder for more information. Thank them for their time and ask if they would be willing to share more information about why your application was rejected. Schedule a five minute call or send them a survey or form to fill out via email. It doesn’t matter how you get the detailed feedback, just that you make an attempt to get it.
- Look for patterns in your rejection letters. Pull up a few of your old rejection letters and identify if you are getting similar feedback from application to application. Determine if there are similar words used or if the same areas of your proposals are getting critiqued. Once you notice any patterns, create a clear plan to address them.
- Lean on your network. Sometimes we’re too close to our work. Don’t be afraid to seek out an expert not affiliated with your nonprofit to review your rejected grant application—like a peer, trusted mentor, or even an old colleague. They can provide an outside perspective and hopefully offer clarity on the areas you need to improve.
📩 Learn what it takes to transform grant rejection letters into future success!
Tech You Should Know
What:
Google for Nonprofits provides free AI tools and resources, including Gemini, to help organizations automate workflows and get more done faster.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Create images. Google for Nonprofit’s generative AI features can help you create images and resources for reports, social media posts, print collateral, and more.
- Ask questions. You can use Gemini to ask questions, bounce ideas off of, and help you bust through writer’s block.
- Up your marketing game. You can leverage Google’s AI resources to create marketing plans, strategies, calendars, and more.
Keep in Mind:
- AI isn’t infallible. Make sure to proofread and fact-check to avoid embarrassing mistakes.
💫 Explore Google for Nonprofits AI resources for yourself!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Matt Hugg on What Funders Want
Matt Hugg, CEO of NonprofitCourses, understands it can be difficult to know what funders really want and that lack of clarity can lead to rejections. Thankfully, in a conversation with Instrumentl, he helped lift the curtain to demystify what it takes to satisfy elusive funders.
Here’s his expert advice:
- Highlight your common goals. Funders have their own missions they aim to advance, so make sure to focus on the different ways you can meet their needs and how you can help them reach their goals.
- Inspire trust that you can deliver. Be confident but realistic in your application. Funders can spot when nonprofits are being too ambitious. During the review process, your organization will be under scrutiny, so make sure you have clean financials, clearly defined outcomes, and realistic measures of success. Otherwise, they may think your goals are too lofty.
- Don’t waste their time. If your proposal is not within their guidelines or doesn’t fit the criteria, don’t apply for funding. Otherwise, you’re just wasting everybody’s time and could even sour your relationship with them.
🧐 Check out the full webinar to learn more about what funders really want!
Opportunities Spotlight
🩺 The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Program Grants - Health
Who It’s For: Nonprofits providing direct services to low-income and vulnerable populations
Next Deadline: Letter of Inquiry due Oct. 15, 2025
Grant Amount: Up to $50,000
The Details:
- The Weinberg Foundation strives to help nonprofits combat poverty, providing funds to meet individuals’ basic needs across five focus areas: housing, health, jobs, education, and aging. Their goal is to help create sustainable solutions that break the cycle of poverty. Priority is given to projects that impact Baltimore, Hawaii, New York City, Northeastern Pennsylvania, San Francisco, and surrounding rural areas.
🌍 Levine Impact Lab Grant
Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on the environment, with preference given to organizations that address social inequity and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Next Deadline: Pre-proposal is due Oct. 18, 2025
Grant Amount: $10,000-$100,000
The Details:
- Levine Impact Lab Grants aim to positively impact the environment and address sustainability challenges, climate resilience, and education on key environmental topics. There are multiple tracks within this grant program, including capacity building grants, quarterly advising programs, and unrestricted financial support.
🔍 Not what you’re looking for? That’s okay! Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Beyond the Grant: Building Your Professional Circle
August 21, 2025 | 12:00 PM CDT
Grants work can be isolating — especially for consultants, small-shop fundraisers, and remote professionals. But it doesn’t have to be.
Join Shavonn Richardson, President of the Grant Professionals Association, and Instrumentl for a session exploring the power of professional community in sustaining, growing, and transforming your grant career.
In this session, you’ll:
- Hear from Shavonn Richardson on the power of professional communities in grant careers
- Learn how to evaluate and choose the right professional communities
- Walk away with actionable tips for building and nurturing a network that opens doors to funding, partnerships, and career growth
Save Your Spot!
💻 Webinar: Grant Writing Certificate Class with Spark the Fire Grant Writing
Beginning 9/30
Join the fall cohort of Spark the Fire Grant Writing’s class! In this eight-week, online course, you’ll receive individualized feedback and encouragement as you write a complete grant proposal and build a calendar of grant opportunities. Weekly live Zoom meetings are included, and participants will receive 24 points toward acquiring or maintaining the GPC or CFRE certification.
Hurry!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📼 Video: The #1 Reason Why Your Grant Application Gets Rejected
Learn from Montana Community Foundation as they explore why their applications were getting denied, what they did to fix it, and how they started to stand out from the crowd to win more grants.
🎙️ Podcast: Are You Getting More Rejections Than Wins? How to Improve Your Grant Proposals
Grant professional Teresa Huff dives into why you may be struggling to win grants and provides listeners with actionable strategies to improve their grant proposals.
Sometimes No Is Really Not Now
Grant rejections are hard, but if you take them in stride, you can actually learn a lot.
Instrumentl can help you along the journey, providing you with end-to-end grant management tools. Even if you didn’t get the grant, you can track it, store your rejection letter in your document library, and leave any relevant notes. Next year, when you set your grant strategy, you can look back and decide if you’d like to apply again.
🎉 Sign up today to see how Instrumentl can help turn your no into a yes!
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