How to know if a grant opportunity is right for you

Hey Reader,

If you’ve ever spent hours (if not days) into a grant application only to get a rejection - or more likely, radio silence! - you’re not alone. One of the biggest traps nonprofits fall into is applying for every open grant RFP they find. The truth? Most grants aren’t worth your time, especially if you don’t have a warm lead or a clear alignment with the funder.

Before you start drafting anything, I always recommend first making sure the grant is worth your time. Here are a few simple yes-or-no questions that will help you determine if the opportunity is actually worth pursuing:

1. Do we clearly fit the funder’s stated priorities?​
If you have to “stretch” your mission to make it align, then that's a no.

2. Does the funder support organizations like ours (size, budget, geography, demographics served)?​
If their past grantees look nothing like you, that’s a red flag.

3. Do we have any relationship with the funder?​
Even a small connection (board member overlap, past communication, shared partner) increases your chances dramatically.
If not, can you build one before the next cycle?

4. Can we realistically deliver the outcomes they expect?​
If the grant requires metrics you don’t currently track - or can’t track - that’s a no. Don't fall into the trap of applying for a grant that your team can't actually deliver on!

5. Is the grant amount worth the time the application will take?​
Be honest here. If the paperwork is a beast and the award is small, it’s often not worth it.

Remember to answer these questions honestly AND in collaboration with others - especially any program or finance staff that would be directly supporting the grant opportunity. If all of your answers to these questions is a clear "no", then it's time to move on. Seriously. You’ll save hours of staff time and avoid the burnout trap that so many nonprofits fall into.

Want a list of 6 websites to find grant opportunities for free? Click here for this special bonus: Free Websites to Find Grants​

Cheers,
Kayla

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