You can submit a strong proposal…
and still be too late.
Not because you missed the deadline —
but because you missed the internal cycle.
Some funders distribute the majority of funding early in the fiscal year.
Others are more conservative throughout the year and award several large grants at the end of the year.
How do you know the funder’s unpublished internal systems?
The best way to find out is to develop a relationship with the funder’s grant administrator.
Related: Grants don’t move at the speed of urgency
Struggling to land big sponsorships for your events? You’re not alone.
That’s why my friend Mariah Monique, Founder of The Sponsorship Catalyst, created the Nonprofit Event Sponsorship Accelerator (NESA).
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Many funders:
Have informal priorities set months in advance
Start conversations before applications open
Already have a sense of where funds are going
So by the time you apply cold, you’re competing for what’s left.
Action step:
✅ Identify funders before their cycle begins
✅ Reach out early (even if it’s just an introduction)
✅ Pay attention to when decisions are actually shaped — not just submitted
Deadlines are public.
Internal decision-making often isn’t.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants