{"id":64768,"date":"2025-07-08T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/?p=64768"},"modified":"2025-08-07T17:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T21:39:41","slug":"what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/","title":{"rendered":"What Experts Wish You Knew Before You Apply for a Grant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We spoke with grant experts and funding advisors to uncover what they&nbsp;<em>wish<\/em>&nbsp;more applicants knew before applying.  Nonprofits often face fierce competition when applying for grant funding. With limited time and resources, many organizations rush to submit applications without fully understanding what funders are really looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth? Writing a strong grant proposal is part art, part strategy &#8211; and knowing how to stand out can make all the difference. Whether you are new to the process or want to sharpen your approach, these insights can help boost your success rate and avoid common pitfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>1.&nbsp;<strong>Read the Guidelines &#8211; Carefully<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Funders frequently cite one top issue: applicants failing to follow instructions. It sounds obvious, but many applicants skim.&nbsp;Funders disqualify applications&nbsp;all the time for missing basic eligibility or misinterpreting requirements. Whether it\u2019s a missed eligibility detail or a document requirement,&nbsp;not reading the full guidelines&nbsp;can instantly disqualify your application &#8211; no matter how impressive your program is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>2.&nbsp;<strong>Know the Funder\u2019s Mission<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Your project might be excellent, but if it doesn\u2019t&nbsp;align with the funder\u2019s priorities, it won\u2019t get funded. Always tailor your application to reflect how your work advances&nbsp;<em>their<\/em>&nbsp;goals. An expert tip is to think like the funder and ask yourself: \u201cHow does this project help&nbsp;them&nbsp;achieve their stated goals?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>3.&nbsp;<strong>Rolling or Ongoing Deadlines \u2260 No Deadline<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>A rolling deadline often doesn\u2019t mean unlimited time. Many funders accept applications on an ongoing basis but&nbsp;close early once funds are allocated. So, you&#8217;ll want to apply early before the budget is allocated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>4.&nbsp;<strong>Strong Outcomes Beat Lofty Goals<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Funders don\u2019t just want to hear that you aim to \u201cempower communities\u201d &#8211; they want to know&nbsp;how&nbsp;and&nbsp;what success looks like! Funders want&nbsp;measurable results. Instead of saying, \u201cWe aim to empower youth,\u201d say, \u201cWe will serve 200 students and increase graduation rates by 10%.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>5.&nbsp;<strong>Operating Support Is Rare So Be Strategic<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>While operating grants (general support) are ideal, they\u2019re less common. If you apply for one,&nbsp;justify how that funding will lead to meaningful, measurable impac<strong>t<\/strong>, and demonstrate sound financial management. In fact, most grants are still&nbsp;program-specific, so be prepared to adapt your request accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>6.&nbsp;<strong>Budgets Tell a Story<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Your budget isn\u2019t just math &#8211; it shows how well you\u2019ve planned and whether your numbers make sense for your goals. Funders often check if your budget&nbsp;matches your narrative. Don\u2019t just plug in round numbers because funders notice vague budgeting. Instead, use your budget to show planning, sustainability, and financial responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>7.&nbsp;<strong>Relationships Matter<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>When possible,&nbsp;reach out to the funder&nbsp;before applying. Funders want to support strong applicants &#8211; they\u2019re often open to conversation. In fact, many foundations encourage calls or emails. This can increase your chances and clarify fit.<br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/>8.&nbsp;<strong>Don\u2019t Recycle Proposals Without Rewriting<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Every grantor is different. Experts warn against copying and pasting the same application. Funders can tell when something wasn\u2019t written with&nbsp;<em>them<\/em>&nbsp;in mind. So, take the time to&nbsp;personalize your proposal, echo their language, and clearly demonstrate why&nbsp;<em>your<\/em>&nbsp;project is a perfect fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Essential Tips to Boost Your Grant Success<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Applying for grants isn\u2019t just about telling your story. It\u2019s about aligning with funders, showing your impact, and demonstrating that you can deliver results. Grant experts agree: a thoughtful, strategic, and funder-focused application can go much farther than a generic one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before your next submission, revisit these expert-backed insights, update your process, and be intentional with every proposal. The extra effort can significantly increase your chances of funding  and help you build long-term relationships with grant funders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need more active grants to apply for today?&nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GrantWatch.com<\/a>&nbsp;to browse hundreds of opportunities currently accepting applications &#8211; many with rolling deadlines and funding available now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>About GrantWatch<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p><em>With over&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grant-search.php?search=advanced\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>9,500 grants<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;currently available,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>GrantWatch.com<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;is the leading grant listing directory. Upgrade to a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/plans.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>MemberPlus+ subscription<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;to view the full grant details, including eligibility criteria and application information. For more information, you can also visit the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/about.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>GrantWatch FAQ<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;page. To see the great value of all 20 of the top GrantWatch features,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/is-grantwatch-worth-it.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Watch the latest episode of the weekly&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/granttalk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GrantTalk<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>podcast by subscribing to our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/grantwatch\/featured\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>YouTube<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;channel. Get your copy of&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Queen-Grants-Teacher-Grant-Writer\/dp\/B0CTG8RXNT\/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=grantnepress-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=e414613f2f6ec10c6bbda2b41f7d202d&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO<\/a><\/strong>, by Libby Hikind<\/em>&nbsp;<em>to learn more about grant writing<\/em>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We spoke with grant experts and funding advisors to uncover what they&nbsp;wish&nbsp;more applicants knew before applying. Nonprofits often face fierce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":68245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[156,118,147],"tags":[117,141,142,4598,1362,21,236,144,4544,201,4542,2601,4547,4543,4546,4596,4597],"class_list":["post-64768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-grants","category-latest","tag-business","tag-community","tag-education","tag-expert-backed-insights","tag-grant-funding","tag-grants","tag-grantwatch","tag-health","tag-no-deadline","tag-nonprofits","tag-ongoing-deadlines","tag-operating-support","tag-recycle-proposals","tag-rolling-deadlines","tag-tell-a-story","tag-under-focused","tag-update-your-process"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Experts Wish You Knew Before You Apply for a Grant - GrantNews<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read this before your next grant application! 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Experts reveal how to avoid common mistakes and boost your approval chances at winning grants!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"GrantNews\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/GrantWatch\/162625900556850\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-08T15:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-07T21:39:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/14_img-950x650_T.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"950\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"650\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nikita\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@grantwatch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@grantwatch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nikita\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nikita\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/084d66842ef8fb1e9a91018157707f60\"},\"headline\":\"What Experts Wish You Knew Before You Apply for a Grant\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-08T15:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-07T21:39:41+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/\"},\"wordCount\":792,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/14_img-950x650_T.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"business\",\"Community\",\"Education\",\"expert-backed insights\",\"grant funding\",\"grants\",\"GrantWatch\",\"health\",\"No Deadline\",\"nonprofits\",\"Ongoing Deadlines\",\"operating support\",\"Recycle Proposals\",\"Rolling Deadlines\",\"Tell a Story\",\"under-focused\",\"update your process\"],\"articleSection\":[\"General\",\"Grants\",\"Latest\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/\",\"name\":\"What Experts Wish You Knew Before You Apply for a Grant - GrantNews\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-experts-wish-you-knew-before-you-apply-for-a-grant\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/14_img-950x650_T.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-08T15:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-07T21:39:41+00:00\",\"description\":\"Read this before your next grant application! 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