Game-Changer: Submitting Your Grant Proposal Weeks in Advance

One evening, while making dinner, I received an unexpected phone call that significantly influenced my approach to submitting grant proposals. It was Therese Ogle, a respected program officer for several foundations in the Seattle area. She had just reviewed a grant proposal I had submitted for a capital campaign to renovate a building and transform it into a play space for parent support.

Therese had a few questions about the details of the proposal. As I answered her questions earnestly, I jotted down notes. When the conversation ended, she suggested I revise the proposal based on our discussion and resubmit it before the deadline. I carefully made revisions to the unclear points and added more details to the sections she had asked about. The grant was resubmitted in a couple of days, still ahead of the deadline. The grant was fully funded.

This experience underscores a crucial strategy in grant writing: the advantage of submitting your proposal well before the deadline. Here’s why early submission can make a significant difference:

1. Opportunity for Feedback: Early submission may open the door to invaluable feedback from the funding agency. Foundations often review submissions if they are submitted weeks before the deadline and provide feedback, just as I experienced. This feedback can be invaluable in refining your proposal to make sure all aspects of the project are clear. Learn more about crafting a stellar proposal in our Certificate in Grant Writing Course.

2. Catching Missing or Outdated Attachments: Foundations often require various attachments, such as financial statements, board rosters, and organizational budgets. Submitting early allows the foundation to notify you if any documents are missing or outdated, giving you ample time to provide the most recent information. One commonly outdated attachment is the balance sheet. It should be updated to the most recent quarter when submitting a grant proposal. Ask the financial team or your accountant to send you an updated balance statement at least quarterly. Access templates for grant attachments that are refined and vetted in our template resources.

3. Avoiding Technical Difficulties: Grant submission platforms can become overloaded as the deadline approaches, which might lead to technical difficulties. I have heard countless tales of organizations working on government grants for weeks and then not being able to submit the final draft on the due date because the system crashed. Misplacing usernames and passwords is also quite common with online applications, so make a habit of documenting these important credentials. Also, note the time of the day and time zone for the grant deadline. No one wants to learn at 5 pm Central that the grant was due at 5 pm Eastern. Early submission helps you avoid the last-minute frenzy and ensures all your hard work at least gets reviewed by the funder.

4. Postal Requirements: Some grants require physical mailing, with deadlines based on when the application is received, not postmarked. Realizing this requirement too late can be disastrous. One foundation even requires that you send full proposals, including your 990 Tax Return, to each of the board members on the foundation in paper format via the mail. Early submission ensures that your application will not be disqualified for arriving late. Avoid overnighting your grant application if at all possible. It can be seen as a waste of resources.

5. Internal Review: While it's never fun to have too many cooks in the kitchen, ensuring that your team members are fully on board with every aspect of the proposal is worth the time spent building consensus. By creating a timeline that allows ample time for internal review, you can use this time to refine your arguments, enhance your narrative, and align your proposal more closely with the funder’s priorities, making it more compelling. Check out my blog on creating a 40-day turnaround on grant proposal development to streamline your team's review plan.

6. Peace of Mind: Submitting early can significantly reduce stress and provide peace of mind, knowing that your proposal is completed and submitted without the pressure of a looming deadline. This mental freedom allows you to focus on other important tasks or start planning your next grant proposal. 

How much in advance should I submit grant proposals?

For strategic grant submissions, timing can be everything. If your primary goal is to receive feedback on your proposal before the final deadline, submitting it at least two weeks early is essential. This window of time allows the foundation's staff to thoroughly review your application without the pressure of the impending deadline rush, which typically sees a surge in submissions. 

Remember, fewer proposals will be submitted this early, so it will really stand out and allow your proposal to receive more attention. Program officers will be less rushed and can provide more detailed and constructive criticism you can use to strengthen your proposal. Not every foundation will do this, but many will if you submit early enough.

Types of Feedback Grantmakers May Provide Before the Application Deadline

When you submit a grant proposal early, grantmakers may provide feedback that can greatly enhance your application. This feedback usually focuses on refining your proposal to better meet the grant’s objectives and criteria. Understanding the types of feedback you might receive before the application deadline can prepare you to make the most effective updates to your proposal. Here are some common areas where grantmakers might provide feedback:

1. Work Plan and Timeline:

   • Planning Details: Reviewers might ask for more information about certain aspects of your work plan that appear underdeveloped or vague. For example, they might notice you’ve skipped over essential planning details necessary for the success of your project.

   • Milestone Completion: Feedback may include questions about the completion of important milestones and how they contribute to moving the project forward. If there are not enough clear milestones in the project plan, it may not be immediately clear if the project gets off track. Putting milestones in place helps the organization and the funder ensure that the project is moving forward successfully.

   • Project Timeline: If submitting a multi-year project timeline within a single year-long grant application, grantmakers might request a breakdown of what will be accomplished specifically during the grant period to ensure the timelines are realistic and well thought out. Always make a note of how long the grant timeframe is and ensure that your timeline matches. It’s also okay to talk about other phases of the project for perspective, but make sure the grant year is prioritized.

2. Key Staff:

   • Reviewers often scrutinize who is responsible for carrying out the project and how they are qualified. Feedback may include questions about the qualifications, experiences, and roles of key staff members to ensure they are capable of executing the project successfully. If not enough information was provided, they may even suggest that you submit resumes of key staff.

3. Outputs, Outcomes, and Impact:

   • Deliverables: Grantmakers might ask for more precise metrics about deliverables, ensuring that what you propose aligns with their expectations. Also known as outputs, these are the widgets that your project will produce, such as the number of people served, the number of meals provided, the number of bed nights, or the number of acres protected.

   • Short, Medium, and Long-term Outcomes: Describing outputs is usually not enough. Reviewers will want to know what changes are expected over different periods. Outcomes should focus on the changes in behavior, awareness, attitude, knowledge, or skill resulting from participation in the project.

4. Connection to Funder’s Priorities:

   • A common feedback area is how well your proposal aligns with the funder’s priorities. If the connection isn’t clear, the funder might ask you to revise your proposal to reflect their goals better. Also, remember to address any eligibility issues. For example, I worked with an organization with “Academy” in its name. Whenever applying to funders that do not make grants to individual schools, I immediately stated that the organization was a six-month program for students at risk of dropping out - not a school.

5. Evaluation Plan:

   • Funders might flag proposals with disproportionate evaluation plans—either too extensive or insufficient for the project’s scale. They may suggest resizing the evaluation to appropriately match the project's scope and expected impact.

6. Budget:

   Hands down, the most highly scrutinized aspect of a grant proposal is the project budget. Reviewers will notice if you put together a budget hastily and may believe you have padded the budget, adding extra unnecessary expenses. To prevent this, take the time to carefully research each line item expense so it is as accurate as possible. Also, always include a detailed budget narrative that explains how each line item was calculated.

Feedback Areas Typically Not Pointed Out by Reviewers

When you can get feedback before the actual deadline, you have an edge over the competition, but there are certain areas that reviewers typically do not comment on:

• Project Fit: If a project is a bad fit for the grant, reviewers generally do not provide detailed feedback and may simply send a rejection letter.

• Grammar and Spelling: Reviewers are typically trained to overlook grammar and spelling in favor of focusing on the content of the proposal. But you should still edit your work carefully. Poor grammar and spelling are distracting, and apps like Grammarly and even Chatbots make it easy to check your work before submitting it.

Community-Based Reviewers

After the actual deadline, the formal review will take place. Increasingly, funders are hiring community-based reviewers who are more closely connected with community-based organizations. These reviewers are often provided with anti-bias training and recuse themselves from reviewing any proposal with a conflict of interest. This approach helps ensure the review process is fair, culturally sensitive, and aligned with community needs.

Reviewers typically use a rubric to score each proposal, which may or may not be made available to applicants. I enjoy volunteering to review grants for foundations and government entities and am asked to comment on each proposal that can be shared with the applicant once the awards are made. However, this information is typically only shared when the applicant requests it. So, if you don’t get a chance to receive feedback before the due date, plan to ask for it once the process is complete. This will help you become a stronger writer over time. Plus, look for opportunities to review grants and get the perspective of wearing the funder’s hat for a change.

A Good Grant Strategy

Submitting your grant proposal early is not just a precaution; it’s a strategy that can lead to better-prepared, more compelling proposals and, ultimately, a higher success rate. By understanding the types of feedback that may be provided—and those that typically are not—you can better prepare your grant proposals to meet the expectations of funders while avoiding common pitfalls. Always consider requesting feedback if your proposal is not funded, as this can provide valuable insights for future applications.

Have you ever benefited from submitting a grant early or learned a hard lesson by waiting until the last minute? Share your experiences in the comments below, and let’s discuss how we can all improve our grant writing practices for better outcomes.

Why You Need a Grant Calendar: A Roadmap to Success

Grant writing can feel like an endless race against time—missed deadlines, rushed submissions, and the overwhelming pressure to secure funding can derail even the best efforts. But what if there were a tool to keep you organized, improve your proposals, and maximize your chances of success? Enter the grant calendar, a simple yet powerful resource that can transform how you approach funding opportunities.

This article explores why a grant calendar is essential, how to build one, and how it plays a pivotal role in helping one nonprofit achieve record-breaking success.

Avoid Missed Deadlines

Deadlines are the bedrock of grant writing. Even the most compelling proposal won’t win funding if it’s late. A grant calendar eliminates the guesswork by visually organizing key dates and tasks, ensuring you stay ahead of deadlines.

With a clear timeline, you can allocate time for research, drafting, and reviews while avoiding the panic of last-minute submissions. This structured approach keeps you in control, no matter how busy your workload becomes.

Improve Proposal Quality

When you aren’t rushing to meet a deadline, you have the time to craft thoughtful, compelling proposals that truly represent your organization’s potential. A grant calendar allows you to break the process into manageable phases, giving each step the attention it deserves:

• Research and gather supporting data.

• Write, revise, and refine the narrative.

• Secure internal reviews and approvals.

By planning ahead, you can focus on quality rather than simply completing tasks. And if you’re working with a team, a grant calendar ensures everyone stays on the same page.

Prioritize Opportunities

Not all grants are created equal. Some align perfectly with your mission, while others may require significant time and effort for a smaller payoff. A grant calendar helps you focus on the “low-hanging fruit”—those opportunities that:

• Are a strong match for your organization’s goals.

• Have reasonable application requirements.

• Offer a high chance of success.

By prioritizing these opportunities, you can use your time and resources more effectively, giving each proposal the attention it deserves.

Maximize Success Through Collaboration: A Story from the Field

A few years ago, I worked with a nonprofit executive director who transformed their grant writing process using a grant calendar. What started as a simple organizational tool became the foundation of a highly successful collaboration that exceeded all expectations.

Every month, we reviewed the grants scheduled for submission in the upcoming weeks. This proactive approach allowed the executive director to identify which funders needed a personal touch. He would call the planned grantmakers, often setting up in-person meetings to build rapport and learn more about their priorities.

The calendar wasn’t just about dates; it was a strategic roadmap. I began drafting the grant proposal tailored to each funder’s guidelines and mission. When meeting grantmakers, he made it a point to listen more than he talked. He asked thoughtful questions and paid close attention to the subtle cues in their responses—what they valued, what they hoped to fund, and even what didn’t interest them.

When he met with grantmakers, he made it a point to listen more than he talked. He asked thoughtful questions and paid close attention to the subtle cues in their responses—what they valued, what they hoped to fund, and even what didn’t interest them. After each meeting or phone call, he debriefed me immediately, sharing insights that refined our approach.

The magic happened in the days following these conversations. I revised the proposals to align perfectly with the grantmakers’ priorities, weaving in the themes and ideas they had shared. By the time the proposals landed on their desks, they weren’t just applications—they were responses to the exact needs and interests of the funders.

The results? More grants were awarded than we could have imagined. This process, anchored by the grant calendar, wasn’t just about organization—it was about creating space for strategic relationships, thoughtful preparation, and collaborative teamwork.

How to Build Your Grant Calendar

Creating a grant calendar is easier than you might think. Here’s how to get started:

1. List Grant Opportunities: Begin by gathering information on all potential grants, including deadlines, requirements, and eligibility.

2. Categorize by Priority: Rank opportunities based on alignment with your mission, application complexity, and likelihood of success.

3. Add Hard Deadlines: Enter immovable deadlines first—grantmakers that only have one deadline per year, for example.

4. Use Strategic Timing: Plan your work based on grant types:

• Quarterly Deadlines: Submit to the first deadline of the year when competition is lower.

• Corporate Grants: Most corporate giving occurs early in the year. Work on these in December and January.

• Government Grants: These are typically due in September. Begin working on them in July and August.

• Family Foundations: These often make decisions around the holidays. Plan to work on them in October and November.

5. Choose a Format: Use a tool that works for you, whether it’s Google Calendar, Excel, or project management software like Trello or Asana. We also love Grant Frog for managing your grant applications.

6. Review Regularly: Update your calendar as new opportunities arise or priorities shift.

Data Elements to Track in Your Grant Calendar

A complete grant calendar includes more than just deadlines. Here are the data elements you should track:

• Name of client and project

• Name and contact info for grantmaker

• Type of funding requested

• Amount to request and likelihood rating

• Application details and deadlines

• Match requirements

• Submission and notification dates

• Status of application (e.g., draft, submitted, funded)

• Number of contacts made

• Notes from conversations with funders

• Report due dates (for both current and previous years)

• Follow-up dates

Tracking these elements ensures you have everything you need at a glance, making the grant writing process smoother and more efficient.

Conclusion

A grant calendar is more than just a scheduling tool—it’s your strategic partner in funding success. It helps you stay organized, prioritize opportunities, and improve the quality of your proposals while fostering collaboration across your team.

As the story from the field shows, when combined with strategic outreach and a commitment to listening, a grant calendar can lead to incredible results. So why wait? Start building your grant calendar today and take control of your grant writing process.

But remember, the best grant calendar is the one your team consistently uses.

Have your own tips, tools, or success stories? Share them in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you make the most of your grant writing efforts!

Mastering SMARTIE Objectives: Crafting Inclusive and Impactful Grant Proposals

When it comes to grant writing, objectives are more than just bullet points—they’re your opportunity to communicate your goals, define success, and demonstrate your commitment to equity and inclusion. That’s where SMARTIE objectives come in.

SMARTIE, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound, Inclusive, and Equitable, is a goal-setting framework that builds on the widely known SMART framework. By embedding inclusivity and equity into your project’s foundation, SMARTIE objectives do more than articulate your goals—they show funders that your work is meaningful, measurable, and aligned with their priorities.

Let me share a story from my experience as a grant reviewer that illustrates why SMARTIE objectives can set your proposal apart. 

A Tale of Two Grant Proposals

During a grant review cycle, I evaluated dozens of proposals, all competing for the same pool of funding. Two proposals stood out but for very different reasons.

The first proposal, focused on community health, included a clear, numbered list of SMARTIE objectives right after the project description. For example: 

1.     Screenings: Deliver 200 diabetes screenings through a mobile clinic to underserved communities by December 2024, ensuring outreach to areas with limited healthcare access.

2.     Follow-Ups: Provide follow-up consultations to at least 50% of screened individuals, prioritizing those from underserved areas, within three months of their screening.

3.     Workshops: Partner with local community centers to host six educational workshops on diabetes prevention and management by December 2024, ensuring workshops are accessible to underserved populations through bilingual facilitators and evening sessions. 

These objectives were clear, actionable, and easy to find. As a reviewer, I immediately understood what the organization planned to accomplish, how they would measure success, and why their project mattered. This gave me confidence in their ability to deliver results, and it made their proposal easy to evaluate against the funder’s criteria.

The second proposal also sought funding for a health-related initiative, but its objectives were buried in dense paragraphs of text. Finding them felt like a scavenger hunt. When I did locate them, the objectives were vague and difficult to quantify:

“We aim to improve health outcomes for residents in our community.”

“The program will reduce barriers to healthcare.”

These statements, while well-intentioned, lacked specificity, measurability, and a clear connection to the funder’s priorities. Without concrete goals, I couldn’t fully understand or trust the organization’s ability to deliver meaningful results.

This experience reinforced the importance of SMARTIE objectives. Well-crafted, visible objectives make your proposal stand out for all the right reasons.

How to Write SMARTIE Objectives

To create compelling SMARTIE objectives, follow these steps:

1. Start with Specificity

Define exactly what you want to achieve. Answer questions like:

What will you accomplish?

Who is involved or impacted?

Where will the project take place?

Example:
Instead of “Increase employment rates,” write:
“Help 50 single parents in rural communities secure employment by providing free childcare and job training.”

2. Measure Success

Funders want to see how you’ll track progress. Use data-driven metrics to define success.

Example:
“75% of participants will complete the training program and apply for at least five jobs within three months of completion.”

3. Be Achievable

Set realistic goals based on your organization’s resources and timeline.

Example:
“Recruit 20 volunteer mentors to support program participants over a 12-month period.”

4. Keep It Relevant

Ensure your objectives align with your organization’s mission and the funder’s priorities.

Example:
“Our goal aligns with the funder’s mission to support workforce development initiatives for underserved populations.”

5. Set a Timeframe

Include a clear deadline for achieving your objectives.

Example:
“Launch the job training program by March 1, with all participants completing the program by December 31.”

6. Prioritize Inclusivity

Inclusion means involving diverse perspectives and underrepresented groups.

Example:
“Design the program curriculum with input from single parents in the target community to ensure it meets their unique needs.”

7. Embed Equity

Equity addresses systemic barriers and promotes fairness.

Example:
“Provide need-based scholarships for 80% of participants to reduce financial barriers to program enrollment.” 

Why SMARTIE Objectives Stand Out

Proposals with SMARTIE objectives make a strong impression because they:

Provide Clarity: Clear, numbered objectives make it easy for reviewers to grasp your project’s goals and methods.

Demonstrate Accountability: They show that your organization has a plan to track progress and evaluate success, building trust with funders.

Reflect Inclusivity and Equity: By addressing systemic disparities, SMARTIE objectives align with funders’ increasing focus on equity-driven initiatives.

Align with Funders’ Priorities: SMARTIE objectives demonstrate that you understand the funder’s mission and values.

Make Reviewing Easier: Well-structured objectives save reviewers time and effort, positioning your proposal as a top contender. 

Tips for Writing Impactful SMARTIE Objectives

Collaborate with Stakeholders: Involve your community in crafting objectives to ensure they reflect real needs and priorities.

Use Plain Language: Avoid jargon. Clear, accessible writing resonates with reviewers.

Tailor to Funders: Customize your objectives to align with the specific outcomes funders want to support.

Evaluate Regularly: Revisit your objectives as your project progresses to ensure they remain relevant and achievable. 

Conclusion

SMARTIE objectives are more than just a framework—they’re a way to communicate your organization’s values and a roadmap for achieving meaningful change. By crafting objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable, you show funders that your work is thoughtful, strategic, and impactful.

Ready to write your own SMARTIE objectives? Share your ideas or examples in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you’re using this framework to drive real change!

Are Grantmakers Denying AI-Written Proposals?

Personal Encounter with AI Detectors

I’ve heard rumors that grantmakers are rejecting grant proposals written by AI. So, while working on a grant application—a task that demands a high degree of precision and personal expertise—I decided to put an AI detector to the test. I chose one that is lauded for its capability to distinguish between human and AI-generated text.

My first experiment involved submitting a piece of my writing that was entirely original and untouched by any form of artificial intelligence. Surprisingly, the AI dashboard displayed that my text was 99% likely generated by a robot, assigning only a 1% probability to human authorship.

Intrigued and skeptical, I tested another piece of my work: a grant proposal from 2012. Yet again, the results were baffling—the AI Detector tagged the proposal as 27% human, suggesting a significant AI contribution to something I wrote way before AI was a thing.

These outcomes spotlight a critical flaw within AI detection technologies, particularly for fields that rely heavily on nuanced and expertly crafted writings such as grant proposals.

How Do AI Detectors Work?

The AI Detector I chose noted that it was the "world’s most powerful AI-generated content detector," developed through extensive training on vast datasets from popular AI text generation tools and human-generated content. It uses pattern recognition algorithms along with linguistic analysis—focusing on metrics like perplexity and burstiness—to determine the origin of text.

Despite such sophisticated methodologies, the scenarios I encountered raise questions about the reliability of AI detectors, especially when they misjudge complex, well-crafted human writing as the work of algorithms. I promise you, I’m not a robot.

Debunking Common Misconceptions About AI in Professional Writing

The use of AI in professional settings like grant writing is often marred by misconceptions. Critics argue that AI-written communications lack the personal touch critical in relationship building and can't collaborate effectively or alleviate decision fatigue. Here’s why these points don’t hold water:

1. AI as an impersonal tool: While AI can streamline repetitive tasks and structure initial drafts, the final touch always benefits from human insight. This doesn’t diminish the value AI adds but highlights its role as an assistive tool.

2. Collaboration: AI doesn’t replace human collaboration but enhances it by handling routine aspects of writing, allowing team members to focus on more strategic and creative tasks.

3. Decision Fatigue: While AI doesn’t replace decision-making processes, it significantly reduces the burden of mundane choices, allowing professionals more energy to focus on crucial decisions.

The Real Value of AI in Grant Writing

For grant writing professionals and those entering the field through courses like Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes, AI tools offer substantial benefits. They democratize access to high-quality writing, helping underrepresented organizations articulate their missions compellingly and efficiently. AI can level the playing field, allowing smaller entities to compete more effectively for funding. 

When used wisely, AI doesn’t strip away the human element but enriches it, providing writers with more resources to craft impactful narratives that resonate with grant reviewers. This, in turn, can lead to more successful funding outcomes and greater impact in the communities these grants serve.

Are Grantmakers Denying AI-Written Proposals?

I hope this article shows that, first of all, AI Detectors do not work. If you learn how to write grants—such as through the Spark the Fire Certificate in Grant Writing course—you’ll be able to craft a proposal tailored to the grantmaker’s guidelines. You’ll also learn how AI can make the writing process less time-consuming.

Second, I have talked with countless grantmakers, and everyone reports that it is perfectly acceptable to use tools like AI. In fact, for smaller organizations with less capacity for grant writing, AI can help level the playing field by making grant writing and grant research easier.

AI is not a threat to professional writing but a valuable ally. As technology evolves, so too must our understanding and utilization of these tools in enhancing our work. Rather than fearing AI, we should embrace its potential to augment our capabilities and help us achieve greater success.

By integrating AI tools responsibly and keeping abreast of technological advancements, we can enhance our effectiveness and ensure that our writings, whether for grants or any other professional need, meet the highest standards of excellence.

For those interested in mastering the art of grant writing with a human touch amplified by technology, consider signing up for Spark the Fire Certificate in Grant Writing Class, where you can learn to combine traditional skills with modern tools for greater impact in your career and the causes you champion.

AI in grant writing is a hot topic, and we’re curious about your experiences. Have you used AI in your grant proposals, and if so, how has it worked—or not worked—for you? What are your thoughts on the accuracy of AI detectors like Winston?

We’re also interested in how funders perceive AI-assisted writing. Have you encountered foundations that explicitly restrict or encourage the use of AI in proposals?

Join the conversation in the comments below and share your insights. Your stories and reflections can help shape the discussion around AI’s evolving role in grant writing. Let’s learn and grow together as part of the Spark the Fire community!

The Perfect Recipe for Grant Writing Success

In my family, recipes are cherished treasures passed down from generation to generation. They hold stories, memories, and a dash of tradition, making them a part of our inheritance. As I baked recently, I found myself wondering: what if I crafted a recipe for grant writing? What ingredients would it include?

Below is my tried-and-true recipe for writing a compelling grant proposal that strikes the perfect balance between heart and data, emotion and logic. And just like in cooking, every grant writer has their own flair—so I’d love to hear your take on this recipe!

Sweet and Savory Grant Proposal

A great recipe balances savory and sweet. In grant writing terms, this means blending hard facts with emotion to appeal to the data-driven reader and the empathetic decision-maker.

1 Scoop of Good Writing

Good writing is your foundation. Spelling and grammar mistakes can come across as careless, potentially damaging your credibility. While one typo might not cost you the grant, why take the risk?

Tools like Grammarly can help catch errors, refine sentence structure, and even suggest more concise phrasing. For a hands-on approach, try a simple exercise: take one paragraph from your draft and trim ten characters without losing meaning. This practice sharpens your ability to write directly and compellingly.

1 Pinch of Storytelling

Every great grant proposal has a story that sticks with the reader. To add emotional depth, vividly describe the setting of your project—the community or neighborhood where the magic will happen. Is it a bustling urban center or a quiet rural area?

Introduce the hero of your story: your program participants. Let them take the spotlight, showing their agency and resilience. Use quotes and real-life anecdotes to amplify their voices. Remember, your organization is the guide in this story, not the hero.

“Remember, your organization is the guide in the story, not the hero.”

1 Dollop of Statistics

Numbers ground your story in reality. For funders who need data to justify their decisions, include statistics about your program participants and measurable objectives for your project.

For example, if your program helps individuals secure employment, a strong objective might be: “Participants will apply for at least five jobs per week.” Make your objectives SMARTIE—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable. Well-crafted objectives prove that your organization knows how to define and achieve success.

1 Dash of Research

Back your project strategies with research to show funders that your approach is evidence-based. If your program provides childcare to help single parents find jobs, cite studies highlighting the connection between childcare access and employment rates.

Quantify the problem with real numbers, such as the cost of childcare compared to minimum wage earnings. Share examples of similar programs that have succeeded in other communities. Combining research with your organization’s success stories builds a compelling case for your ability to make an impact.

Pre-Heat Your Oven

Before you submit your grant proposal, think about its emotional resonance. Funders are more likely to support initiatives that help people directly rather than those that address an organization’s internal struggles.

For example, would you rather give money to help a family access childcare so the parents can work or pay a nonprofit’s utility bills? While both are important, the former feels more impactful. Focus on showing funders how their contributions will transform lives, not just sustain operations.

Conclusion

Grant writing, like cooking, is both an art and a science. The best proposals strike the perfect balance between emotional appeal and logical reasoning, storytelling, and statistics. By following this recipe and adding your unique touch, you can create a grant proposal that leaves funders saying, “Yes, I want to support this!”

Now it’s your turn: what’s your recipe for a winning grant proposal? Share your favorite tips, techniques, or "ingredients" in the comments below! Let’s cook up success together!