Some grants look exciting because they push your organization forward.
Others quietly stretch you too far.
The difference isn’t always obvious upfront.
There are warning signs, but sometimes the excitement of “potential” can cause us to ignore them.
Related: Why considering capacity is so important
Watch for this:
If winning the grant would require you to:
Hire quickly without a plan
Build new systems under pressure
Deliver a program you’ve never run before
If you are developing a new program simply because you saw a grant that will fund it, please reconsider.
That’s not growth.
That’s strain.
Action steps:
✅ Ask: “Can we deliver this well with our current structure?”
✅ Separate strategic growth from reactive stretching
✅ Prioritize opportunities that build on existing strengths
Growth should feel intentional.
Not forced.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants