One Tip I Wish I Knew Sooner
Grant writing can be a challenging and rewarding journey, and like many grant professionals, I’ve had my fair share of lessons learned the hard way. If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice early on in my career, it would be this: Always read the grant...
The Grant Writing “Survival Kit”
Grant writing can feel like a complex journey, full of challenges, deadlines, and high stakes. But with the right tools, you can navigate the process with confidence and increase your chances of success. Think of these tools as your "Grant Writing Survival Kit"—each...
The Myth of “Easy” Grants
There’s a common misconception in the world of nonprofits and organizations seeking funding: grants are “free money.” It’s an idea that many newcomers to grant writing cling to, but the reality is far more complex. While it’s true that grants don’t need to be paid...
Critical Thinking Skills Every Grant Professional Needs
Successful grant writing is more than just filling out applications—it's a strategic exercise in problem-solving, analysis, and crafting compelling narratives. To truly excel in grant writing, you need more than just the basics. You need strong critical thinking...
Eligibility & Completeness are Key
It’s easy to focus on crafting the perfect proposal—meticulous planning, well-articulated goals, and a flawless budget. But none of that matters if your application doesn’t meet the basic requirements or is missing key documents. Many grant proposals are rejected...
A Writing Refresher for Grant Pros: Composition Best Practices for Successful Proposals
Strong writing is essential to competitive grant proposals. Still, project design, outcomes, and budgets can rush the writing process, leaving even the strongest grant writers with a narrative with unintentional errors. Writing mistakes can lead to lower scores and...
Early Submission Wins
When it comes to submitting grant proposals, waiting until the last minute may seem like a time-saver, but in reality, it’s a risky move. Power outages, internet glitches, or even a last-minute discovery of an overlooked error can derail your submission plans. The...
Clarity Beats Complexity
When it comes to writing a grant proposal, simplicity isn’t just a good idea—it’s a winning strategy. It’s easy to think that using academic language or complex jargon will make your proposal sound more professional or impressive, but the truth is, clarity always...
Post-Award Reporting Can Last Years
Winning a grant is a major milestone, but the work doesn’t stop when the grant term ends. In fact, your responsibilities may extend for months—or even years—after the funding period concludes. Many funders require post-award reporting to track long-term outcomes,...
Grant Management Starts Early
Winning a grant is a huge accomplishment, but it’s only the beginning of a long journey. Too often, organizations make the mistake of thinking about grant management only after they’ve secured the funding. However, successful grant management doesn’t start the day the...