What Are the Most Common Mistakes Made by Grant Writers?

Writing a good grant proposal is difficult. You need to address the specific needs of your funder, meet their submission guidelines, and make sure you’re offering them value for money. 

There are so many things that can go wrong, which is why it’s important to know how to avoid common mistakes!

In this article, we take a look at some of the common mistakes made by grant writers – and how you can avoid them when writing your next proposal:

Key Takeaways
1. Lack of proper research on the funding organization’s priorities.
2. Failing to tailor the proposal to match the funder’s guidelines.
3. Overlooking proofreading and editing, leading to errors.
4. Neglecting to showcase the impact and outcomes of the project.
5. Not providing sufficient supporting data and evidence.
6. Underestimating the importance of a clear and concise narrative.
7. Ignoring the project’s sustainability and long-term goals.
8. Submitting proposals that lack a compelling and persuasive tone.
9. Overcomplicating the proposal with jargon and technical terms.
10. Failing to follow up after submission and lack of persistence.

Not Reading And Following The Guidelines Closely

Not reading and following the guidelines closely. You’re on a first-name basis with the grant officer at your organization or a similar organization, so you don’t think it’s necessary to go through the full application process. 

Or maybe you just skimmed through everything on your initial read-through of the guidelines (and no one likes to be wrong). Whatever the case may be, this is one of the most common mistakes made by grant writers.

It’s important to take care when reading and following guidelines because they can contain critical information about how much money your project is eligible for, who qualifies as an eligible applicant, etc. 

In addition, if there are any errors or missing information in these documents even small ones then this could cause delays in getting funding approved or even result in receiving less money than what was intended.

Dealing with the challenges of grant writing can be frustrating. However, there are ways to overcome these hurdles and stay motivated. Learn more about handling common grant writing challenges in our article on things all grant writers hate and what to do about it.

Not Communicating With The Right Contact Person At The Funding Agency

When you submit your grant application, you’ll be asked to provide contact information for the person who will be overseeing your project. If you can’t identify that person, it’s a huge red flag and the funding agency will probably reject your request.

You can find out who should be in charge of your grant request by doing some research on the agency and its mission statement you may even find this information on their website or through Google searches. If all else fails, just call or email them!

Assuming What You Read In Print Is Accurate

If you’re reading a grant application, there are a few things to look for that will help you determine whether the organization is being truthful. If the language is vague, this might be because it’s difficult to lie in writing; however, vague language can also be used as a cover-up.

Look out for phrases like “we do not discriminate” or “we treat all applicants equally” these statements may sound nice, but they’re often untrue! You should try to find specific examples of how an organization has demonstrated this commitment.

If a grant is seeking funds for one specific project and doesn’t mention any other projects (or mentions them only briefly), likely, funding for these other projects isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Starting a career as a grant writer can be daunting, but hindsight can provide valuable insights. Discover the wisdom of experienced grant writers in our post about 11 things I wish I knew when I started as a grant writer.

Failing To Review The Guidelines More Than One Time Before Preparing Your Proposal

Read The Guidelines More Than Once

The first thing to do is read the guidelines twice. Once in the morning and once at night. Not only will this help you retain what you’ve learned, but it can also make your brain function better in general.

Read Them On A Computer Screen, Then Again On Paper

Try reading through them on a computer screen and then again on paper. Reading from a physical document allows you to think of ideas as opposed to just typing them into Google Docs or Microsoft Word (or whatever else). 

This also helps prevent eyestrain, which is important if you’re going for a long time without taking breaks!

Read Them In A Quiet Environment

This one may seem obvious but there’s nothing worse than trying to write an essay when people are talking around you all day long! Also, try not eating anything heavy before writing so that food doesn’t settle in your stomach 🙂

Despite the challenges, there are numerous reasons to find fulfillment in the role of a grant writer. Explore the positive aspects of grant writing and why many are glad to pursue it in our article about the top 12 reasons why I’m glad to be a grant writer.

Ignoring Post-Award Reporting Responsibilities

When it comes to reporting requirements, the most common mistake made by grant writers is failing to understand how and why they are required. Not only are reporting requirements often not clearly defined in the guidelines, but they are also often not included in the grant award. 

And even when reporting requirements do appear in both places, they can be difficult for inexperienced grant writers to interpret and apply effectively.

To avoid this problem, always check with your organization’s legal counsel before starting work on a grant application.

Failing To Meet Deadlines

Deadlines are not negotiable. They are not flexible, and they rarely have any wiggle room in them. If you miss a deadline, it’s gone forever. There is no extension or postponement it’s over!

In the grant-writing world, many deadlines can be missed by applicants if they don’t do their due diligence in preparing their proposal for submission; but even after submitting your application (and getting feedback from the funding organization).

You still need to meet their deadline for submission of the final version of your grant proposal with all required attachments. As mentioned above, missing an important deadline could cost you dearly even if all of your materials have been submitted by the due date.

Assuming That Repetitive Material In The Guidelines Has No Importance

It’s easy to assume that repetitive material in the guidelines is there simply to fill up space, and therefore not important. 

But it’s always a good idea to read through all of the relevant sections in your grant application carefully, even if they’re repetitive that way you can be sure that you’ve covered everything necessary and haven’t missed anything.

Failing To Request The Correct Amount Of Funding

When you’re writing a grant proposal, it’s important to know how much money you’re requesting. The amount of funding requested must be realistic and justified. It should also be appropriate to the project and in line with your budget, as well as your organization’s capacity.

It’s easy for your request to get out of hand if you don’t consider these factors. 

For example, let’s say your group wants 100 million dollars in grant funding to build a massive new building that will house several departments under its roof (I’m not sure why they don’t just build one big office complex instead). 

A reasonable person might think that this was too high but what if one of those departments houses 500 employees? What if there are multiple departments? You see where I’m going with this: there are many variables at play here!

Navigating the world of grant seeking can be complex, but learning from others’ missteps can be enlightening. Discover the most common mistakes grant seekers make and how to steer clear of them in our comprehensive guide on the 14 biggest mistakes grant seekers make and how to avoid them.

Submitting A Proposal That Is Not Well Written

Of all the mistakes grant writers make, none is as common as submitting a proposal that is not well written.

The problem with poorly written proposals is that they are not taken seriously. If you do not take the time to proofread your work and correct any grammatical errors, typos, spelling mistakes, or other issues, why should I? 

Poorly written proposals with typos are even worse than those without them because these errors show that you don’t care about your work enough to take the time needed to ensure it is free of errors before sending it out into the world.

All this means one thing: poorly written proposals will not be funded!

Presenting A Project As Unprofessional

Don’t use jargon and abbreviations. Your proposal should be written in the same style as you would use to write a report or other professional document. 

It’s important to be clear, so avoid using abbreviations and acronyms that may not be familiar to the person reading your proposal. For example, instead of writing “CRP,” use “Community Recovery Program.”

Don’t use fonts that are hard on the eyes or any font that is too small or too large for easy reading (including italics). 

You’ll want your reader to be able to approach your page with ease and focus on what they need from it without getting distracted by things like small text size or an abundance of bolded words.

It’s Not Just About How Good Your Idea Is

The grant proposal you submit will be the first impression your organization makes on the grantmaking community. 

If that first impression is weak, it’s unlikely that anyone will read further into your proposal or take action to support your work. So it’s important to make sure you’re giving them a strong, clear introduction.

That means being able to articulate three things: 

1) The problem or need your organization is trying to address; 

2) What specific solution you have proposed; and 

3) How exactly this proposed solution will address the identified problem or need in a way that helps advance society as a whole (i.e., an impact)?

You must be able to articulate these three things effectively for a potential funder to understand what you are proposing and why they should support it with their funding dollars.

Writing a successful grant proposal requires a combination of skills and strategies. Learn why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to grant writing and how to approach it effectively in our article discussing why there’s no magic formula for writing a grant.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. The most common mistakes made by grant writers. Of course, we know that this is a huge topic and we’ve only touched on some of the key points here. 

If you want more information about any of these subjects or if you have questions about how to avoid making them yourself. 

Feel free to reach out! We would be happy to chat with you about how we can help improve your next proposal before submitting it for review by an awarding agency

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources for further reading on common grant writing mistakes:

10 Most Common Grant Writing Mistakes: Learn about the prevalent mistakes that grant writers often make and how to avoid them.

Proposal Writing Mistakes: Discover key proposal writing mistakes that can hinder your success and gain insights into rectifying them.

Grant Writing Mistakes to Avoid: Explore a comprehensive guide to grant writing mistakes to avoid, enhancing your grant writing prowess.

FAQs

What are the typical grant writing errors beginners make?

Novice grant writers often struggle with issues such as unclear project descriptions, lack of alignment with funder priorities, and insufficient supporting data.

How can I enhance my grant proposal’s chances of success?

To increase the likelihood of success, ensure your proposal is well-organized, addresses the funder’s objectives, and provides compelling evidence of need and impact.

Are there common pitfalls in proposal writing?

Yes, common pitfalls include failing to follow guidelines, overlooking typos and grammar errors, and not tailoring the proposal to the specific funder’s requirements.

What should I consider when crafting a budget for a grant proposal?

When creating a budget, be sure to include all relevant expenses, justify each cost, and align the budget with the project’s objectives and outcomes.

How can I make my grant application stand out?

Craft a compelling narrative, provide clear and concise explanations, and demonstrate a deep understanding of both your organization’s mission and the funder’s priorities.