Grantmakers want to see that your organization has the ability to manage the significant amount of money you are trying to convince them to give you in your grant application. Having a strong grant management system in place as the best way to show them that you can stay in compliance and follow through on your project.

In any grant application, take every opportunity to align the purpose of your grant with the values and goals of the funding entity. This may seem obvious, but it is easy to lose track of this vital aspect of grant writing when you are immersed in your organization’s agenda, and in the process of writing the grant itself.

When looking over NOFOs, one big question is: Does this grant require a match?

One question many grant makers have is this: how will the program funded sustain itself after grant closing? Many grant seekers have projects in mind that they want funding to start, but grant makers want to know how the project will sustain beyond the grant.

or grant seekers eligible for federal grants, keeping on top of the grant cycle is key to make sure you don’t miss out on funding.  If your grants calendar does not yet have a comprehensive list of recurring federal grants, get on it!

Most grant applications, and virtually all federal grant applications, require letters of support from local, regional, and state leadership depending on the project.  This shows the funder that there is layered support for your organization or entity, and for the proposed project lending to its long-term success. 

Logic models go a long way towards making your grant application stand out from the pile.  They are a great tool to show complex information in one digestible unit.