Master the Grant Cycle: From Rejection to Funding!

In this high-energy Fundraisers Friday Show, cohosts Julia Patrick and Tony Beall unpack the complexities of grant writing and grant readiness with an eye toward practical, data-driven insights. It’s a masterclass in actionable wisdom for any nonprofit professional involved in grant development—covering strategy, timelines, win rates, and relationship-building.

Julia sets the tone with her signature candor, stating: “Fundraisers are expected to do this and it is a very specific trade or craft.” This immediately defines the reality that for many nonprofit professionals, grant writing is just one of several responsibilities they juggle.

Tony responds, echoing: “Grant writing is one of the most important combinations of style and substance… tell a story and back it with data.” He reinforces this by recommending that fundraisers align time investment with expected revenue—if grants are expected to make up 20% of a nonprofit's budget, then 20% of time should be spent on them.

The show also dives into success rates. Tony notes, “National or federal grants may have just a 5%–10% win rate, whereas local grants can hit 40%–50%,” pushing nonprofits to think strategically when choosing which grants to pursue.

The duo explore application timelines, portal logistics, and how a lack of consistency across systems can be a major hurdle. Despite these challenges, they encourage you to create internal systems and document folders to manage recurring information—especially vital as Tony quips, “You’ll be so good at this… you’ll spend 50–75% less time on your narrative over time.”

A big theme emerges around the evolving role of funders and the increased opportunity for relationship-building. Julia points out, “This isn’t just a shot in the dark anymore—funders are listening and often willing to adjust.”

Perhaps most inspiring is Tony’s call for resilience and learning in the face of rejection: “If there’s an opportunity to reach out to the funder and ask, by all means—make the phone call.”

They wrap with encouragement for new nonprofit leaders and a hot tip: don’t be afraid to explore AI tools in your grant writing toolkit.

#NonprofitStrategy #GrantWritingTips #FundraisersFriday

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