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Ever felt like your grant proposals are disappearing into the void with no feedback in sight? The thing about submitting grant proposals is that it can take many months to hear back from funders. And too often, there is no direct feedback loop.

It's a common challenge. How do we make our grant proposals better if we don’t get meaningful feedback?

Actionable tips

1️⃣ Trust the Process: Grant review can take time, so stay patient while waiting for responses. Remember, funders receive numerous proposals to evaluate, and the review process can be lengthy. Trust in the process and remain patient while awaiting responses.

2️⃣ Keep Track: Maintain a detailed log of your submissions to see your efforts accumulate over time. Keeping track of your submissions not only helps you stay organized but also provides a sense of accomplishment as you see your efforts building up. Use a spreadsheet or a grant tracking tool to record important details such as deadlines, funders, and submission dates. We use ClickUp (affiliate link) for our grants tracking.

3️⃣ Diversify Your Approach: Explore alternative funding sources to increase your chances of success. While you may have specific funders in mind, it's essential to cast a wider net and consider other funding opportunities. Explore corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, and individual donations. Diversifying your approach can help mitigate the risk of relying too heavily on a single source of funding, and it can give you practice delivering your pitch in person, where you have real-time feedback.

4️⃣ Seek Support: Reach out to fellow grant writers and mentors for guidance and reassurance. Building a support network of peers and experienced professionals can provide valuable insights and encouragement during challenging times. Share your experiences, seek advice, and learn from others in the field. Remember, you're not alone on this journey, and there are people willing to support you along the way. Our Nonprofit Grant Magic course (email me for more info!) has monthly group coaching sessions so that our students can get feedback and start to develop their personal fundraising networks.

5️⃣ Self-Reflect: Use downtime between submissions to refine your approach and strengthen future proposals. Take time to reflect on your past proposals and consider areas for improvement. Could your narrative be more compelling? Is your budget realistic and well-supported? Sometimes when we are not on a deadline we have more capacity to reflect on what is working and not working in our proposals.

Grantwriting is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay committed to your mission and trust that persistence will pay off in the long run. While immediate results may be gratifying, focus on the bigger picture and the long-term impact of your work. Keep your eye on your organization's goals and continue pushing forward!

National funder of the week

The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation awards grants to organizations for which a small amount of money might make a large difference. The foundation welcomes requests for support from community-based, nonprofit organizations based in the United States. Applications submitted before May 10 will be considered for the Fall 2024 Award Round.

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Have a good week!

Tracy

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Founder, Tracy Babler & Associates LLC
​@nonprofitgrantmagic​

6417 Penn Ave S, Ste 7-220, Minneapolis, MN. 55423
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