{"id":69081,"date":"2025-10-06T09:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T13:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/?p=69081"},"modified":"2025-10-06T09:19:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T13:19:37","slug":"how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time &#8211; Before You Apply!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>How do you know if a grant is really worth your time before you apply? Applying blindly to funders can waste valuable time and resources. However, strategic grant seeking starts with insight. It starts with understanding which funders align with your mission and have a record of supporting similar organizations. Get it? When you know what to look for, you can focus your efforts, improve your success rate, and stop chasing opportunities that don&#8217;t fit your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s where <strong><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GrantWatch<\/a><\/strong> comes in. Subscribers can see an extensive list of grants in the <strong><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/foundations-search.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Foundation Directory<\/a><\/strong>, GrantWatch provides instant insights by parsing Form 990 data to reveal what organizations funders have supported, how much they typically award, and where their priorities lie. This easy-to-use, searchable database includes funding history, geographic focus, and past recipients. With all of GrantWatch&#8217;s considerable tools at their fingertips users are empowered to make informed, strategic decisions before applying. With this level of transparency, GrantWatch makes grant research smarter, faster, and far more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Form\u202f990 Essentials: What Matters, What Doesn\u2019t<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Form\u202f990 filings are rich with information, but their value lies in knowing where to look:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Key insights<\/strong>: funding history, recipient types, award amounts, foundation assets, and mission statements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What to skip<\/strong>: verbose financial statements and legal disclosures that offer little insight into funding trends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Discerning these critical data points manually takes time and that\u2019s where specialized tools become invaluable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>GrantWatch\u2019s 990 Parsing: Signals at a Glance<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>With GrantWatch\u2019s&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/foundations-search.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">990s Finder and Foundation Directory<\/a><\/strong>, funder research becomes efficient and visual. The platform parses IRS data into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy-to-digest charts and graphs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lists of recent grantees, award amounts, and areas of interest<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Snapshots of foundation health like assets and revenues&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These insights allow users to spot patterns quickly and make smarter decisions, no manual deep dive needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Reading Patterns: New vs. Repeat Grantees, Amounts, Geography<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding giving patterns is crucial. GrantWatch helps you spot trends like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Whether funders favor&nbsp;new applicants&nbsp;or repeat grantees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typical&nbsp;grant award sizes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Geographic focus and whether they support organizations in your region<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps you tailor your application strategy and know whether to pursue, nurture, or pass on a funder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Decision Framework: Pursue, Nurture, or Pass<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Use the following framework to filter funders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pursue<\/strong>: aligned geography, funding size, and recipient type<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nurture<\/strong>: close fit with smaller past giving or shared mission, but not exact match<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pass<\/strong>: inconsistent history, small awards, or outside your focus area<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With GrantWatch\u2019s insights, you can make these distinctions confidently and quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Building a Funder Dossier Template<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Create your own funder dossier using:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Foundation profile (mission, assets, giving history)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typical grant size and geography<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Past grantees and project types<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decision status (pursue\/nurture\/pass)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>GrantWatch gives you all the raw data and this template helps you turn it into actionable intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Compliance &amp; Ethics Notes<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>While researching funders, always observe:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Privacy and transparency<\/strong>: Use public Form\u202f990 data ethically and only for strategic insights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bias awareness<\/strong>: Don\u2019t exclude smaller or newer funders just because their award patterns differ<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Equity considerations<\/strong>: Be mindful of underrepresented communities and funding disparities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Being insight-driven doesn\u2019t mean overlooking ethics, it means being intentional with your strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>FAQ: Why Is Form\u202f990 Data Important for Grant Seekers?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: What is Form 990 data?<\/strong><br \/><strong>A:<\/strong>&nbsp;Form\u202f990 is an IRS filing that reveals a foundation\u2019s financial details, including its past grantees and grant amounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: Why is Form 990 information important?<\/strong><br \/><strong>A:<\/strong>&nbsp;It saves time by showing whether a funder historically supports organizations like yoursnbefore you invest effort in applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q: Does GrantWatch analyze Form 990s for me?<\/strong><br \/><strong>A:<\/strong>&nbsp;Yes. GrantWatch parses and simplifies Form\u202f990 data into visual insights like charts, grantee lists, and award breakdowns, so you can quickly see funding patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>Final Thought: Stop Guessing and Start Applying Smarter<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Stop guessing who a funder really supports. GrantWatch&nbsp;turns complex Form\u202f990 data into plain-English insights. See past grantees, award sizes, and trends, so you can apply where you\u2019re aligned while skipping the dead ends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ready to transform your grant research?<\/strong><br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/plans.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Sign up for GrantWatch<\/strong><\/a> today and gain instant access to powerful\u00a0all the grant funder research tools\u00a0that empower smart, confident funding decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br \/><strong>About GrantWatch<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/libbyhikind.com\/book-details.php?id=14&amp;title=the-queen-of-grants-from-teacher-to-grant-writer-to-ceo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Libby Hikind<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, author of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Queen-Grants-Teacher-Grant-Writer\/dp\/B0CTGSC12Q?crid=ZKKM059BC7BA&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vRtKLKhI_nmUnMdiMzDMpGYxlHqVYKqE3x90LhPsJsnmxINmzPIn_RWKpSwLBoQm6423Dmh8qmb7gWQcYgMfiEePAPMYxEKRwVOvblR-qd_2QIPJMM7JzV0uPenfW-27QnkxUhxVuOV1lNB-b_OlmrcE5axh7WVq3V0JFq5U3W5a70B2JnENtW2Lmwr8KK2ErP80_Lm7GOwG4MIVOsgW-SRaKdfAzFhf5X7RYCnuYEU.Ql5cdBXLJUD3WE_yM9-9c1YU9LED1PP5uytswmof9xw&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=queen+of+grants&amp;qid=1750860290&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=queen+of+grants,stripbooks,142&amp;sr=1-1&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=grantnepress-20&amp;linkId=f10f179795ca20786ef434fdaaf7b797&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, founded&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>GrantWatch.com<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, the largest advanced grant search engine in the United States. The platform features over 10,000 active, verified, and human-curated grant opportunities in more than 60 funding categories. Additionally, it lists&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grants-for-nonprofits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>grants for&nbsp;<em>nonprofits<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grants-for-small-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>grants for&nbsp;<em>small businesses<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grants-for-government\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>grants for&nbsp;<em>government agencies<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grants-for-individuals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>grants for<em>&nbsp;Individuals<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GrantWatch also offers innovative funding tools like the&nbsp;<strong><em>AI Grant Writing Tool<\/em><\/strong><em>,&nbsp;<strong>AI Grant Searching Tool<\/strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>My Grant Calendar<\/strong><\/em>, making it easier to find grants, track deadlines, and draft proposals. Members can upgrade to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/plans.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>MemberPlus+<\/em><\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;for complete grant details, eligibility criteria, and application information. With 21 powerful features, live customer support, and weekly&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/granttalk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>GrantTalk<\/em><\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;podcast episodes, GrantWatch is the go-to resource for finding grants and turning funding opportunities into awarded grants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you know if a grant is really worth your time before you apply? Applying blindly to funders can<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":70827,"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":[118,147,143],"tags":[5379,5367,5365,1967,5377,5376,5361,5378,1445,5364,5358,5362,2745,5363,5374,5381,2794,5369,1360],"class_list":["post-69081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grants","category-latest","category-nonprofit","tag-ethical-grant-research","tag-form-990-data","tag-foundation-directory","tag-foundation-grants","tag-funder-dossier-template","tag-funding-patterns","tag-grant-application-strategy","tag-grant-award-history","tag-grant-database","tag-grant-insights","tag-grantwatch-990-finder","tag-grantwatch-ai-grant-tools","tag-grantwatch-features","tag-grantwatch-form-990-parsing","tag-grantwatch-foundation-directory","tag-grantwatch-grants-for-nonprofits","tag-grantwatch-resources","tag-grantwatch-tools","tag-nonprofit-funding"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wasting time on the wrong funders? Know who actually gives, how much, and to whom - so you can stop guessing and start winning grants!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wasting time on the wrong funders? Know who actually gives, how much, and to whom - so you can stop guessing and start winning grants!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\" \/>\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=\"2025-10-06T13:10:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-06T13:19:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.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=\"GrantWatch Staff Writer\" \/>\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=\"GrantWatch Staff Writer\" \/>\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\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"GrantWatch Staff Writer\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/ca84ae9ef650102c928be695b0157106\"},\"headline\":\"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time &#8211; Before You Apply!\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-06T13:10:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-06T13:19:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\"},\"wordCount\":862,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"ethical grant research\",\"form 990 data\",\"foundation directory\",\"foundation grants\",\"funder dossier template\",\"funding patterns\",\"grant application strategy\",\"grant award history\",\"grant database\",\"grant insights\",\"grantwatch 990 finder\",\"grantwatch ai grant tools\",\"grantwatch features\",\"grantwatch form 990 parsing\",\"grantwatch foundation directory\",\"grantwatch grants for nonprofits\",\"grantwatch resources\",\"grantwatch tools\",\"nonprofit funding\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Grants\",\"Latest\",\"Nonprofit\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\",\"name\":\"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-06T13:10:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-06T13:19:37+00:00\",\"description\":\"Wasting time on the wrong funders? Know who actually gives, how much, and to whom - so you can stop guessing and start winning grants!\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp\",\"width\":950,\"height\":650,\"caption\":\"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/\",\"name\":\"GrantNews\",\"description\":\"Powered By GrantWatch\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GrantWatch\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/GW.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/GW.jpg\",\"width\":400,\"height\":120,\"caption\":\"GrantWatch\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/GrantWatch\/162625900556850\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/grantwatch\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/grantswatch\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/grantwatch-com\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/applyforgrants\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC8YAavtZreMRWx67Zkt-Kkg\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/ca84ae9ef650102c928be695b0157106\",\"name\":\"GrantWatch Staff Writer\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30611a07673ea627809315c9f297d383cf3ccd147d719bd52b834f8a41682af7?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30611a07673ea627809315c9f297d383cf3ccd147d719bd52b834f8a41682af7?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"GrantWatch Staff Writer\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/author\/socialmedia\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!","description":"Wasting time on the wrong funders? Know who actually gives, how much, and to whom - so you can stop guessing and start winning grants!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!","og_description":"Wasting time on the wrong funders? Know who actually gives, how much, and to whom - so you can stop guessing and start winning grants!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/","og_site_name":"GrantNews","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/GrantWatch\/162625900556850","article_published_time":"2025-10-06T13:10:46+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-06T13:19:37+00:00","og_image":[{"width":950,"height":650,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"author":"GrantWatch Staff Writer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@grantwatch","twitter_site":"@grantwatch","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"GrantWatch Staff Writer","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/"},"author":{"name":"GrantWatch Staff Writer","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/ca84ae9ef650102c928be695b0157106"},"headline":"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time &#8211; Before You Apply!","datePublished":"2025-10-06T13:10:46+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-06T13:19:37+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/"},"wordCount":862,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp","keywords":["ethical grant research","form 990 data","foundation directory","foundation grants","funder dossier template","funding patterns","grant application strategy","grant award history","grant database","grant insights","grantwatch 990 finder","grantwatch ai grant tools","grantwatch features","grantwatch form 990 parsing","grantwatch foundation directory","grantwatch grants for nonprofits","grantwatch resources","grantwatch tools","nonprofit funding"],"articleSection":["Grants","Latest","Nonprofit"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/","url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/","name":"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp","datePublished":"2025-10-06T13:10:46+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-06T13:19:37+00:00","description":"Wasting time on the wrong funders? Know who actually gives, how much, and to whom - so you can stop guessing and start winning grants!","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-to-know-if-a-grant-is-worth-your-time-before-you-apply\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp","width":950,"height":650,"caption":"How to Know If a Grant Is Worth Your Time - Before You Apply!"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/","name":"GrantNews","description":"Powered By GrantWatch","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#organization","name":"GrantWatch","url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/GW.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/GW.jpg","width":400,"height":120,"caption":"GrantWatch"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/GrantWatch\/162625900556850","https:\/\/x.com\/grantwatch","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/grantswatch\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/grantwatch-com","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/applyforgrants","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC8YAavtZreMRWx67Zkt-Kkg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/ca84ae9ef650102c928be695b0157106","name":"GrantWatch Staff Writer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30611a07673ea627809315c9f297d383cf3ccd147d719bd52b834f8a41682af7?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/30611a07673ea627809315c9f297d383cf3ccd147d719bd52b834f8a41682af7?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"GrantWatch Staff Writer"},"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/author\/socialmedia\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/91_img-950x650_3.webp","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pck2w8-hYd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":52450,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/how-important-is-it-for-grant-seekers-to-research-grant-funders\/","url_meta":{"origin":69081,"position":0},"title":"How Important Is It for Grant Seekers to Research Grant Funders?","author":"Danika","date":"October 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"We all know that grant-makers make philanthropic investments, but how do you know which funder to choose? With a little research on a grant funder, grant-seekers can get a leg up and ensure their grant proposal stands out to grant-makers during the review process. Does your cause need grant support?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Business&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Business","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ImportantGrantseekarticlefin-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ImportantGrantseekarticlefin-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ImportantGrantseekarticlefin-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ImportantGrantseekarticlefin-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":67126,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/the-secret-to-winning-grants-researching-grant-funders\/","url_meta":{"origin":69081,"position":1},"title":"The Secret to Winning Grants: Researching Grant-Funders","author":"Danika","date":"November 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Researching grant funders is vital. Searching for funding can feel overwhelming, especially since each grant-maker has its own mission, goals, and eligibility requirements. Because of this, not every grant opportunity will align with your cause. However, understanding a funder's mission, reviewing their history, and studying past projects can significantly improve\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Grants&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Grants","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/grants\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A diverse group of four colleagues gather around a laptop, smiling and collaborating in a warm, brightly lit office. The wall behind them features a clock and the words \u201cStrategies for Researching\u201d in bold yellow letters.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/90_img-950x650_4.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/90_img-950x650_4.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/90_img-950x650_4.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/90_img-950x650_4.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27399,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/foundation-grants-for-nonprofits-in-2023\/","url_meta":{"origin":69081,"position":2},"title":"Foundation Grants for Nonprofits in 2023","author":"Nikita","date":"June 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Foundation grants are the most sought-after type of grant by nonprofits for many reasons. First, the grant proposal application process tends to be simpler than most government grants. In addition to this, foundation grants can also be less restrictive. However, they can also be difficult to locate, as most foundations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Foundation-Grants-for-Nonprofits-in-2023-V2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Foundation-Grants-for-Nonprofits-in-2023-V2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Foundation-Grants-for-Nonprofits-in-2023-V2-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Foundation-Grants-for-Nonprofits-in-2023-V2-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Foundation-Grants-for-Nonprofits-in-2023-V2-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64278,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/what-is-the-average-nonprofit-grant-amount\/","url_meta":{"origin":69081,"position":3},"title":"What is the Average Grant Amount for Nonprofits?","author":"Nikita","date":"June 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Understanding the average size of nonprofit grants is crucial for organizations planning their fundraising strategies. Grants come in many shapes and sizes, influenced by factors such as the grantmaker's priorities, the nonprofit's mission, and the scope of the project. Whether you're a small community organization or a large national nonprofit,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;General&quot;","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"What is the Average Grant Amount for Nonprofits?","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/average_img-950x650_T.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/average_img-950x650_T.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/average_img-950x650_T.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/average_img-950x650_T.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33775,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/where-to-find-navigate-nonprofit-990-reports\/","url_meta":{"origin":69081,"position":4},"title":"Where to Find &#038; Navigate Nonprofit 990 Reports","author":"Danika","date":"October 16, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you come across nonprofit 990 reports in your grant search? We all know that grants are competitive, but did you know that nonprofit 990 reports are packed with vital information? Above all, this document will help you determine if a grant is suited for your cause. With the 990s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Grants&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Grants","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/grants\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/How-to-find-nonprofit-990-reports-V2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/How-to-find-nonprofit-990-reports-V2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/How-to-find-nonprofit-990-reports-V2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/How-to-find-nonprofit-990-reports-V2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":37272,"url":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/990-search-feature\/","url_meta":{"origin":69081,"position":5},"title":"Revisiting the 990 Search Feature: Can It Help You Find the Right Grant?","author":"Pamela","date":"February 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chances are, if you've searched for grants, you realize that the process can take a lot of time. It can feel as though you are looking for a needle in a haystack. It's also clear that tips for a grant search can certainly come in handy. One of the challenges\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Business&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Business","link":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/business\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Revisiting-the-990-Search-Feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Revisiting-the-990-Search-Feature.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Revisiting-the-990-Search-Feature.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Revisiting-the-990-Search-Feature.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69081"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70828,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69081\/revisions\/70828"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grantwatch.com\/grantnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}