Get Funded Faster: How to Write a Standout Grant Application

Crafting compelling grant applications is essential for standing out amongst applicants to secure the funding needed to sustain your mission and programming. The most successful grant proposals clearly show how the program or initiative will create measurable social change. Here's how to make your application stand out—and a few common pitfalls to avoid.

Avoid These Common Grant Application Mistakes

When writing your application, steer clear of these pitfalls:

Jargon and Technical Language

While it's tempting to use technical language to demonstrate expertise, this can create barriers for funders who may not be familiar with the nuances of your field. Instead, keep your language accessible and focus on clarity—tell a story.

Use storytelling to illustrate the problem, your approach, and the impact you're making. This helps funders connect with the human side of your work and understand how their support will make a difference. Include the voices and perspectives of those who benefit from your programs, highlighting specific challenges they face and how your organization addresses them.

Standardized Organizational Narratives

Every foundation has its own set of values and priorities. Avoid using a one-size-fits-all description of your organization's mission and work. Instead, customize your narrative to align with the specific goals of the foundation you're approaching. This personal touch demonstrates genuine alignment and can make your application stand out. 

Before submitting your application, research the foundation's values and focus areas. Tailor your proposal to reflect how your mission and work align with their goals. This goes beyond listing your activities; it means connecting how your organization can further the foundation's vision of change.

However, the key here is to ensure you aren't sacrificing authenticity. While you want to align with the funder's goals, you don't want to try so hard to adapt to their priorities that you miss the opportunity to demonstrate your organization's unique value—that thing that makes you the answer to the problem you're trying to solve. 

The grant opportunity may not be a good fit if you can't clearly see the connection between your work and the foundation's priorities. And that's okay. There will be other opportunities.

Purely Anecdotal Evidence of Change

While stories are powerful, relying solely on anecdotes can weaken your case. Instead, integrate data on measurable change. Funders increasingly want to see data proving your program's effectiveness and know their support will lead to real impact. Support your stories with data to show measurable impact. Integrate data on shifts in mindsets, behaviors, or conditions that show how your program produces measurable outcomes. Highlighting statistics or case studies that demonstrate your results strengthens your proposal and reassures funders of your capacity to effect change.

Internally, it would be best if you had a standard workflow for capturing impact so that when it's needed for awards and grant applications, your fundraising and development teams can easily access the information they need to showcase your work.

Need Help With Your Next Grant Application?

A well-prepared grant application is your best tool for securing funding and scaling your impact. If you're ready to craft a proposal that resonates, let us support you. Please schedule a consultation with our experts.