Every year, in mid-September, I start receiving frantic emails and text messages from my clients.
“What do things look like for grant awards through the end of the year?”
I get it. The Board is asking for updates. They are working on the 2026 budget. Holiday programming needs funding. Maybe we haven’t reached our 2025 grant goal yet.
The end-of-the-year grant push is here. My clients have access to my grant pipeline and can view the status of every grant.
So, why are they asking me all these questions?
They are looking for reassurance. It is my job to provide them with a forecast that they can use to plan for Q4 and 2026.
How do I remain calm?
Firstly, there is a disproportionate number of grants that will be notified between October and December. We will win some of them.
And if I determine that we need to raise additional funds before year-end, I will send out year-end ask letters to small foundations and also to our current grant funders.
Often, there are extra funds available that foundations distribute before the new fiscal year, and if we ask, we receive them.
If your organization is freaking out a bit, offer reassurance.
‘Tis the season.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants