Grant Writing That Doesn't Put Funders to Sleep

The Applications That Blend Together

After a decade in nonprofit leadership and a year on a foundation's review committee, I can tell you: most grant applications sound exactly the same.

"Our organization serves [population] in [city]. We provide [list of services]. Our outcomes include [statistics]."

Fine. But forgettable.

What Makes Me Pay Attention

Start with a person, not a statistic. "Maria came to us after leaving an abusive relationship with two kids and $40 in her pocket. Eight months later, she was in her own apartment and starting a job."

That's a hook. Now I want to know how you did it.

After the hook, yes, give me the numbers. But frame them around the story. "Maria isn't an outlier. Last year, 73% of the 200+ families we served achieved housing stability within 12 months."

The Data Problem

Here's what funders actually want: evidence that you know what works. That means tracking outcomes over time and being honest about what you've learned.

I'd rather fund an organization that says "we tried X, it didn't work, here's what we changed" than one that claims 100% success rates. Nobody has 100% success rates.

Practical Tips

• Lead with impact, not need. I know homelessness is a problem. Tell me what you're doing about it.
• Be specific. "50 housing placements" is better than "significant impact."
• Match the funder's language. Read their priorities and reflect them back.
• Keep it short. If I'm reviewing 60 applications, brevity is kindness.