Crushing Grant Funding Challenges- Why Your Narrative is Missing The Mark

Full Circle- How Working in Funding Works

I was standing in the middle of a sunflower field on a super hot Friday afternoon. Something surreal happened. I realized, this is work. I've reclaimed my time and this summer I spent hours working evenings teaching grant writing so I could take a Friday afternoon off and enjoy the sunshine.

The same week I started teaching my own course I attended grant reviewer training for the U.S. federal government agency I formerly worked at. 

It was a strange experience realizing how my career in the impact space has gone full circle. From federal employee creating grant programs and overseeing competitions to reviewing grant applications. I coached nonprofit and social service agencies tby provididing technical assistance in the government, now I deliver technical assistance directly to grantees funded by foundations and government agencies. 

The thread I see in all of these experiences is the passion to make sure that money goes to causes and organizations that can truly make a difference. That’s one of the things that makes me happiest, seeing good people with real meaningful work get loads of money. When I was standing in the sunflower field I realized, I'm insanely happy with clients and projects I spend my time on.

I got an emergency phone call last week from a fellow business owner in the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce. He needed a budget and implementation plan for a vocational program he developed for youth. Since we last spoke a nonprofit partner found a grant to fund the program for an alternative school in our area.

At 5 pm I showed up at his business and we got to work. By the next day we had a project summary, budget, and budget narrative to share with his partner. With a scalable program and the right tools, he can build this program into an aspect of his social business that makes a big impact in partnership with local nonprofits and schools.

When I'm supporting my clients in scaling their impact, we get super creative. We also focus on delivering the right product to the right audience. Tailoring our programs and services for the right funding opportunities gives the right foundation to implement a grant successfully.

It's more than just planning the program, it's how you describe your work in a narrative and budget. How you justify what you're doing and why matters.

In this week’s read I break down some of the ways that you can overcome some of the biggest challenges that grant applicants face and deliver an impressive narrative.

This content is inspired by my recent blog post- The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Standout Grant Narrative. Read the full guide for more important tips!

What is the biggest challenge in grant writing? 

One of the most significant challenges in grant writing is striking the right balance between showcasing the significance of your project and adhering to the word or page limits set by funders. Condensing a complex project into a concise narrative without compromising its integrity requires careful planning and precise writing.

The reason this challenge occurs is because funders must limit the amount of information sent to keep competition fair to both reviewers and other applicants. The page limit is not the issue, the problem is your ability to shine in the most concisely written way possible. Follow these tips to help you overcome the biggest hurdle in the grant writing process- sticking to the space limit.

Finding Balance in Your Grant Writing

When crafting your grant narrative, think about the things that must be in your application or program to successfully reach your outcomes. Those items should be the first areas you focus on when crafting the sections of your grant application and grant narrative.

Convey your ideas effectively using plain language writing techniques or clear and concise language. Avoid jargon and technical terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader. Instead, focus on presenting a coherent and engaging narrative that demonstrates the potential impact of your project.

Once you have drafted a section, thoroughly edit your narrative to omit miscellaneous information and words. Do not leave editing to the last minute, it is important to edit as you go so your final product is as close to final as possible.

How to Write A Grant Narrative That Impresses Reviewers

Crafting a high-scoring grant application requires careful attention to several key elements that showcase your organization’s strengths and align with the funder’s priorities. A strong application not only increases your chances of success but also demonstrates your organization’s competence and capacity to deliver on its promises. 

For a reviewer, a high-scoring grant application is one that: 

• Has no or few fatal flaws 
• Meets the requirements
• Provides proof of eligibility
• Has a strong implementation plan
• Addresses the criteria directly 

From a reviewer’s perspective, reading a bad narrative takes more time and energy because you have to hunt for answers that should be readily available.

Thoroughly review and edit your application to ensure there are no technical errors, inconsistencies, or omissions. A well-structured, error-free proposal enhances your credibility and professionalism. Technical flaws are anything a reviewer might see as a mistake that could lead to poor implementation or a part of your proposal that is not well-developed.

Since reviewers are likely experts in your field, it is important that you have your experts review your application before submission as well.

Is Your Narrative Missing the Mark?

Sometimes grant narratives miss essential points not because of technical errors. Before you submit your next grant proposal ask yourself these questions: 

• Have I clearly conveyed who I serve?
• Is my catchment area clearly defined?
• Have I conveyed the needs and gaps identified in my assessment? 
• Are my activities, goals, objectives, and outputs aligned? (hopefully you know the difference!)
• What does my narrative convey about my organization’s expertise?

Get the rest of the tips in this blog post to find out how to make your reviewers happy by developing a grant narrative that they’ll love.

Hi I'm Wendie V. With over 15 years of experience as a funder, I'm the mastermind behind successful multi-million dollar grant programs. I've managed grants, overseen competitions, and even created programs from scratch. As a seasoned grant reviewer, I know exactly what funders are looking for and how they think.

But my expertise doesn't stop there. I now use my wealth of knowledge to empower clients like you to implement sustainable strategies for social change. I specialize in untangling the complexities of federal, state, and local funding, creating synergy to solve even the most complex problems.

I provide sustainability consulting and coaching for social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders.

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P.S. Lead image from a recent trip to the sunflower fields in Potomac, Maryland, USA. Photo Courtesy of Ather Ahsan