If You’re Not Getting Funded, It’s Probably One of These.

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You spent days — maybe weeks — crafting the perfect grant proposal.

✅ Stats
✅ Budget
✅ Long-winded narrative
✅ Glowing endorsements

And then?
“Unfortunately, your application was unsuccessful.”

No feedback. No clue. Just rejection.

Here’s the hard truth:

Most failed grants don’t lose on substance. They lose on structure.

Let’s fix that.

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What Foundations Really Look For

You think they want passion.
They want predictability.
They want:

• A clear mission
• A credible plan
• A capable team
• And confidence that their investment will show visible results

You don’t need perfect language.
You need a clear, fundable frame.

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The 3 Mistakes That Kill Great Proposals

1. Over-Explaining the Problem

You spend 80% of the application talking about how bad things are.

The result? Fatigue. Not funding.

Fix it: Show the solution sooner. Make your proposal hope-driven, not problem-heavy.

2. Under-Explaining the Execution

You say you’ll do something great, but never say how.

The result? Doubt.

Fix it: Break it down. Use a simple 3–4 step work plan. Show who’s responsible, what it costs, and when it happens.

3. No Proof of Previous Wins

You say you’ll deliver, but your track record is missing.

The result? Hesitation.

Fix it: Include 2 short examples of past success even if small. Bonus if they match the grant’s theme.

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I reviewed a grant pitch for a brilliant anti-poaching programme.

They spent 5 pages on the rhino crisis and only one vague paragraph on the actual plan.

After a rewrite:

• 1 page on problem
• 2 pages on execution
• 1 page on team and track record
• Clear budget + milestones

The result? Funded. Fully.
And they were asked to apply again next year.

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Grants aren’t about saying the right thing.
They’re about showing the right structure.

Let’s stop guessing what funders want.
Let’s give them what they need.

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If a funder read your last proposal in 60 seconds… would they understand your impact?