Earn a Stamp of Approval on Your Grant Application!

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 Staff Writer 821 Views budget, business, Community, Deadlines, Education, eligibility requirements, environment, Format Guidelines, Goals in Common, grant funding, grant proposal, grant seeker, grant writer, grants, GrantWatch, health, letters of support, list of board members, nonprofits, technology

Earn a stamp of approval on your grant application. If your grant proposal was rejected, don’t be discouraged! Grant writing involves a huge learning curve. Some applications will succeed, while others may be denied for any number of reasons. The good news? Each rejection offers valuable lessons that can improve your chances of securing funding in the future.

GrantWatch offers valuable resources, expert tools, and insights to help you navigate the grant-seeking process with confidence.

How to Get Approval on Your Grant Application

Common Reasons a Grant Is Rejected

Since your goal is to get approval on your grant application, let’s look at the most common reasons a grant is rejected, along with the solutions.

Eligibility: To begin, this is the most common reason a grant is rejected. The best course of action is to always ensure you meet eligibility requirements.
Missed Deadline: Simply put, if the deadline has passed, look for another grant.
Unfeasible Budget: The higher the funding amount, the more stringent the rules. Go over your books with care and be sure every penny is accounted for.
Writing Needs Improvement: If writing is not your thing, you might consider using a software program. In fact, you might even need a grant writer.
Format Guidelines: Always follow the funder’s guidelines. We recommend you read them carefully and be thorough for compliance.
Missing Items: Have all documentation ready and attached before you submit. Check and double check every item.
No Goals in Common: Your organization and the funder must share the same goals. If they don’t, it’s unlikely they will fund your cause. Ensure success by selecting a funder whose cause is in line with yours.

Questions to Ask

Next, take a step back and ask yourself some hard questions. Luckily, you may even ask these same questions when you contact the funder. Be straightforward and ask the kind of questions that lead to solutions.

“Should I apply again?”
“Was there something I forgot in my proposal?”
“Was my writing clear and concise?”
“Do you have any suggestions for where else I might apply?”
“Are the reviewers comments available?”

Solve Issues Before They Begin

You should only seek grants you are eligible for. To do that, you need to refine your grant search. Visit GrantWatch and locate a grant with the SMART Advanced Search filter. Search by recipient type, location, category interests, funding source type, and deadline date. Each grant process is different, based on the funder. The grant detail page has everything you need: the eligibility requirements, the deadline, the application, and more. GrantWatch offers a Personalized Grants Calendar that helps you easily keep track and monitor your grants.

Most funding organizations require additional items that you need to include. These are typically things like a budget, a list of board members, and letters of support. And, if you put in the effort and time, you can Learn How to Apply for a Grant for your organization within a matter of days.

5 Popular Grants and Matching Categories

1. Capital Funding

Capital Projects to Revitalize Public Community Spaces: Up to $50,000 to community leaders, elected officials, and tribal leaders for capital projects to revitalize public community spaces in rural areas.

2. Community Service

Grants to Benefit Eligible Communities: Grants of up to $50,000 to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects to benefit residents in eligible communities.

3. Travel and Tourism

Arts and Cultural Touring Presentations: Up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and tribal entities to provide high-quality arts and cultural touring presentations.

4. Operational Support

Positively Impact Local Communities: Grants up to $25,000 to nonprofit organizations to positively impact local communities. Funding may be requested for program support, capital support, and general operating support.

5. Workforce Development

Education, Healthcare, the Arts, the Environment, and Technology: Grants to nonprofit organizations for community projects in the areas of education, healthcare, the arts, humanitarian services, environmental initiatives, and technology and research.

To conclude, application rejection should never be the end of the story. Instead, it should be the key factor that drives you to write a winning application. Learn from your mistakes and use them to spur future success!

About GrantWatch

With over 9000 grants currently available, GrantWatch.com is the leading grant listing directory. Upgrade to a MemberPlus+ subscription to view the full grant details, including eligibility criteria and application information. For more information, you can also visit the GrantWatch FAQ page. Click here to see the great value of all 20 of the top GrantWatch features. Watch the latest episode of GrantTalk, powered by GrantWatch, with host Libby Hikind. You don’t want to miss this. Visit us on YouTube weekly. Get your copy of The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO, by Libby Hikind.

Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that grants will be awarded as a result of this information.