It is disappointing to receive a rejection email for a grant you thought you would win.
I received one last week. It is a local grant that is seemingly a perfect match. They have quarterly grant cycles, and I have applied twice but have been rejected.
I reached out to the foundation and asked for feedback on my grant application. They replied that the program is aligned with their giving and the application was great; they simply receive a tremendous number of applications each cycle.
So, what is my plan?
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I had a conversation with my Executive Director. I explained the situation and told him it takes me 2-3 hours to complete the application each cycle. We considered the average award amount, the foundation’s feedback, and the time I invest in the application.
After weighing all the factors, we decided I should continue applying every cycle until we win the grant.
Here is my approach:
- Send a thank you email after every rejection email and ask for feedback.
- Have a fellow grant writer friend read the next application I submit before I hit the SUBMIT button. Outside eyes are always helpful.
- Revise each new application by updating the statement of need to reflect changes, updating the program info and stats, adding new testimonials and press, updating the outcomes data, updating changes in the board, financial statements, etc.
Unless I receive feedback that indicates that the funder is not interested in ever funding our project, I will weigh the cost/benefit of reapplying each grant cycle.
Do you have a different strategy? I would love to hear about it at hello@writeepicgrants.com.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants