How to tell if a grant is right for you before you apply
Five questions to answer in ten minutes, so you spend your writing time on calls you can actually win.
By Grantplex Team2 min read
Most rejected applications fail before anyone reads the project idea. They fail on fit: the applicant was not eligible, the project sat outside the funder's priorities, or the budget did not match what the call offered.
Before you open a blank document, answer these five questions.
1. Are you the kind of applicant this funder accepts?
Look for the eligible applicants section. Funders usually specify some combination of:
- Legal status (registered NGO, community-based organisation, company, individual)
- Country or region of registration and of operation
- Minimum years in operation or audited accounts
- Whether partnerships or consortia are required
If any of these rule you out, stop. Funders rarely make exceptions, and reviewers often screen these out before reading further.
2. Does your project match the stated priorities?
Read the call's objectives and underline the outcomes the funder wants. Then write one sentence describing your project using their words. If that sentence feels forced, the fit is weak.
3. Does the amount make sense?
Check the minimum and maximum award and any co-funding requirement. A project that needs far more than the ceiling, or far less than the floor, is a poor match even if everything else fits.
4. Can you meet the deadline properly?
Count backwards from the deadline. Allow time for gathering documents, getting partner letters, internal sign-off and the submission portal itself. If the honest answer is "only by rushing", consider the next round instead.
5. Can you deliver and report on it?
Funders expect progress reports, financial records and sometimes audits. Make sure you have the people and systems to do this before you commit.
If you can answer yes to all five, the call is worth your time. Keep a short note of your answers: they become the backbone of your proposal.