Is Your Organization Grant Ready? A Closer Look

At Grant Writing Solutions, one of the most important messages we share with potential clients is this: before we can move forward with a formal grant program agreement, it's essential to ensure your organization has a strong foundation in place—one that aligns with what funders expect and what grant reviewers are looking for.

From our interactions and a review of your public materials (website, social media, and 990 filings), we often find that essential program details—those that underpin a successful proposal—are unclear or missing. These gaps aren’t unusual, especially for newer or fast-growing nonprofits, but they do need to be addressed before applying for funding.

Although this is typically part of our official onboarding process after an agreement is signed, we believe in starting with transparency and value. That’s why we’re sharing a complimentary tool to help your team assess your current level of grant readiness.

The Tool: Program/Project Profile Worksheet

We’ve created a Program/Project Profile Worksheet to help you clarify your program’s purpose, identify the need it addresses, define measurable outcomes, and map out partnerships and internal infrastructure. These are the core elements most funders require for competitive applications. Completing this tool will help you understand where your organization stands—and what development work may be needed to meet funder criteria.

Grant Writing Is More Than Writing

One of the most common misconceptions is that grant writing simply involves describing a good idea. In truth, funders expect far more:

- Alignment with Strategic Goals: Your project must match the funder’s mission and current funding priorities.

- Documented Community Need: Funders want to see reliable data and real-world evidence that your program addresses a specific, significant issue.

- Quantifiable Outcomes: You must be able to demonstrate what success looks like and how it will be measured.

- Implementation Capacity: Grant reviewers evaluate your ability to execute the program effectively, manage funds, and report outcomes.

What Happens After You Complete the Worksheet?

If you choose to share the completed worksheet with us, we will review your responses and assess your program’s readiness. We’ll then send you a summary of our conclusions and a few available dates and times for a complimentary 60-minute introductory Zoom call. If you would like to continue exploring working together, the next step is for me to send a proposed service agreement, including estimated development hours, costs, and a roadmap to move into the grant writing and submission phase.

Understanding the Grant Timeline

It’s also important to understand that grant funding is not immediate. Once submitted, proposals typically undergo several months of review. After approval, it may take additional time for funds to be disbursed, and some funders provide lump-sum payments, while others operate on a reimbursement model.

This means your organization must have robust fiscal processes in place to manage restricted funds, track grant-related expenses, and produce timely, accurate reports.

Building Your Grant Pipeline

We won’t just submit one proposal when we work together—we’ll build a pipeline. Applications will be submitted on a rolling basis, and you’ll begin to see results at different points throughout the year. Over time, that pipeline will grow into a sustainable funding strategy.

Ready to find out where your organization stands? Let’s take that first step together. Complete the Program/Project Profile Worksheet, and let’s build your readiness—strategically and successfully.

Organizational Grant Readiness Checklist

Use this checklist to assess whether your organization is positioned to begin the grant application process. If you find gaps or need guidance, we're here to help. Contact us for a free consultation and the next steps.

• Can you clearly describe your program in one or two sentences (what it does, who it serves, where, and why it matters)?

• Have you identified a specific community need your program addresses, supported by data or evidence?

• Do you have measurable outcomes for your program (how will you track success)?

• Do you have partners, collaborators, or referral sources involved in your program?

• Is your budget clearly outlined, including funding sources and key expenses?

• Does your organization have policies, financial oversight, and documentation required by most funders (e.g., 501(c)(3) status, board-approved financials, strategic plan)?

• Are you collecting basic demographic data on the clients you serve?

• Do you have a system to evaluate your program’s results and track progress?

• Is your staff clear on who is eligible for services and how intake is handled?

• Do you feel confident submitting a proposal aligning with a funder’s priorities and expectations?

• Do you have written job descriptions and clear roles for staff, volunteers, and board members?

• Has your board formally approved a multi-year strategic plan with measurable goals?

• Do you conduct regular program evaluations and use findings to improve services?

• Is your organization using a donor or client database (CRM) to manage records and communication?

• Do you have updated policies in place (e.g., whistleblower, conflict of interest, anti-discrimination)?

• Have you collected letters of support or MOUs from community partners to include with grant applications?

If you answered 'no' or 'not sure' to any of the above, don’t worry—that’s precisely where we come in. Grant Writing Solutions can help build your program’s foundation and develop a competitive grant strategy that gets results.

📩 Contact us to schedule a free consultation.

Grant Writing Solutions, Inc.