How to Make the Most of a “Failed” Grant Application

If you learn from your mistakes, there really is no such thing as a failed grant application.  Competitive grants are hard and learning how to make yours stand out takes many failures.  Here’s why: each rejected grant is a laboratory.  This is how you learn from your mistakes and get a sense of what exactly grant makers are looking for.  It can be hard when you are first starting out to not take rejections personally, but it is part of the learning curve.  Even seasoned grant writers often don’t get the funding they seek.
Here is what to look out for in grant feedback:
·         Did the project align with the objectives of the grant and the values of the grant maker?
·         What sections of the grant application were lacking?
·         How did the grant maker ask to be written to from the content of the feedback?
·         How are they asking you to show that your organization will make responsible use of the grant money?
These are just a few aspects of written feedback to pay attention to.  If your grant application was rejected this year, this is actually a leg-up for you next year.  Always ask for feedback.  This is your study guide for when you apply for next year’s grant.  Often, grant making agencies will have several grant opportunities per year.  The more you get to know the funder, the better equipped you will be to write to them.  This is all part of building a comprehensive grant writing strategy and building relationships with funding sources.
Of course, you don’t have to wait to get rejected to get helpful feedback on your grant application.  Let us review your application before you file to help identify areas of improvement.  Visit http://www.boydgrants.com.