Successful Grant Applications

🚀 Grantwriting post 🚀 Imagine your reviewer or panel/committee member. It's 9 PM, the night before the review meeting. They've got a toddler on their lap, a glass of wine in one hand, and your proposal in the other. They've been interrupted 5 times while reading and they need to get through 9 more proposals before going to sleep. Can they understand what you want to do? No? Make. It. Simpler. Over the past few months I've been reviewing grants for Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the Research Council of Finland | Suomen Akatemia, and the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Submitting a grant takes an enormous amount of effort, but so many fail simply because **the reviewers can't understand what you want to do.** A few suggestions applicable to almost any grant ➡️ 1️⃣ Include a sentence saying, "The goal of this project is ________." Ideally make it the first sentence of your abstract and your proposal, but at minimum put it in the first paragraph. If you can't state your goal in one sentence, refine it until you can. 2️⃣ Remove all acronyms. If it's less recognizable than "HIV" or "DNA," then spell it out every time. Acronyms can hopelessly muddle an otherwise strong proposal. 3️⃣ Start with *simplicity* then add *complexity.* First, write a half-length version of your proposal in an extremely simple way that an educated layperson could understand, and test it on a few people. When that's done, use what you wrote as header sentences/paragraphs, and add all the technical details below them. Now, each reviewer can easily skim past the parts outside their field, while still understanding the big picture. 4️⃣ List the central elements of your proposal, then REPEAT THEM. This is important for methods, e.g. - humans or mice? study design? case and control definition? recruitment strategy? sample size? statistical approach? These key facts (without details) can be repeated in the abstract, end of background, methods (here, include the details), and assessment of threats/weaknesses. If you repeat them with perfect consistency, your reviewer will understand what you want to do, and feel reassured that you have a clear plan. Happy grantwriting ✍ 😊

How This Space Tech Startup Secured $5.5M (Without Giving Up Equity). Last year, I invested in Raven Space Systems. They developed a novel way to 3D print aerospace hardware: • Faster • Cheaper • More efficiently Before pursuing VC money, they secured $5.5M through grants from NASA, Air Force, and The National Science Foundation. This was pure capital for R&D to: • Validate their technology • Access specialized facilities • Build government & commercial credibility Incredible benefits, yet not without challenges. Applications are competitive, time-consuming, and often come with restrictions on fund usage. 6 steps for capital-intensive startups to access non-dilutive funding: 1) Find the Right Grant Programs → Focus on SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) → STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) programs. → These offer billions annually in non-dilutive funding for early-stage R&D. Key Agencies: NASA, NSF, DoD, (AFWERX), USDA, and others. 2) Prove Your Tech Solves a Big Problem → Funders want mission-critical solutions over "cool" innovations. → Eg: NASA funds projects that improve performance in space exploration. → Use data or case studies to demonstrate the urgency of the problem → And the effectiveness of your solution. 3) Develop a Clear Proposal → Specific R&D milestones → Measurable outcomes → Commercialization plans Align your proposal with the funder's mission and values and highlight how your project advances their goals. 4) Leverage Strategic Partnerships Strengthen by collaborating with universities, labs, or prime contractors. E.g: Raven partnered with the University of Oklahoma for material testing and technical validation. Partnerships mean specialized equipment and critical expertise. 5) Engage with Grant Officers → Reach out to program managers before applying → For insights on aligning your application with agency priorities → Clarify any ambiguities and tailor your proposal accordingly 6) Iterate And Improve → Treat rejections as opportunities to learn → Many startups win grants on attempt 2 or 3 → Refining on feedback can significantly improve success rates After validating their tech with grants, Raven then raised VC to: • Scale manufacturing • Build sales teams • Enter new markets Validate with grants. Scale with VC. Combine both for a winning position. ____________________________ Hi, I’m Richard Stroupe, a 3x Entrepreneur, and Venture Capital Investor I help early-stage tech founders turn their startups into VC magnets Enjoy this? Join 340+ high-growth founders and seasoned investors getting my deep dives here: (https://lnkd.in/e6tjqP7y)

🔹 Why do some grant proposals win, while others fail? Over the years, I’ve reviewed, written, and secured funding for organizations across Africa seeking non-equity financing or grants. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and where most applicants go wrong. If you’re struggling with grants, here’s a simple framework I use for winning proposals: ✅ 1. A Problem That Keeps Funders Up at Night Most proposals get tossed aside because they are organization-centered, not problem-centered. A great proposal starts with a compelling, data-backed problem statement that aligns with what funders care about. ✅ 2. A Game-Changing Solution, Not Business as Usual Funders are not looking for routine projects. They want innovation, sustainability, and impact. Answer these questions clearly: What makes your solution different or scalable? How will it continue beyond the grant period? ✅ 3. A Budget That Makes Sense Many proposals lose credibility with budgets that either lack justification or seem unrealistic. A winning budget: Is cost-effective but not underestimated Clearly links every expense to the intended impact Shows co-funding or sustainability plans ✅ 4. A Story That Moves, Not Just Data Facts and figures are critical, but funders connect with stories of impact. Your proposal should bring the problem to life with real-world examples. If it doesn’t inspire, it won’t get funded. Working on a proposal? Drop a comment if you have questions! 🚀

You can spend weeks writing a grant proposal—but if it doesn’t align with the funder’s priorities, the chances of it being approved are very slim! I see this mistake over and over again. 🚨 Organizations pour hours, even months into writing grant proposals, only to get rejected—not because their project wasn’t important, but because they never researched what the funder actually wanted to fund.  So, before you sit down to write your next grant, here’s what you need to know:  → Funders don’t fund what YOU need. They fund YOUR impact.They fund what aligns with THEIR mission. Many people approach grants thinking, "I need money for my project—who can give it to me?"  But successful grant seekers flip the script. They look for alignment first. ✅ Research past grantees. What kind of projects has this funder supported before? Do you fit into that pattern?  ✅ Read their funding priorities. If they say they fund education initiatives, do they mean general education, STEM programs, early childhood learning? Dig deeper. ✅ Mirror their language. If they emphasize “economic mobility,” don’t just say your program helps job seekers—show how it advances economic mobility. → Vague proposals don’t get funded. Specificity wins. I see a lot of proposals that say things like: We aim to reduce food insecurity in our community.  That sounds nice, but it’s not compelling. A funder is going to ask: How many people will you serve? What’s your timeline for achieving results? What metrics will you track? Instead, try something like: ✅ We will support 150 families by providing bi-weekly meal kits containing fresh, nutritious produce. Over the course of 12 months, we will track participants' progress through annual surveys to measure the impact of this program. We anticipate achieving a 20% reduction in food insecurity among participants, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in promoting health in the community. See the difference? The more specific you are, the easier it is for funders to see your impact. When you write a proposal, don’t just explain why you need the money. Show them the transformation their funding will create. 🛑 Instead of: We need $50,000 to expand our mentoring program. ✅ Try this: With $50,000, we will expand our mentoring program to serve 300 additional students, increasing graduation rates by 25% over the next two years. The more you frame your proposal around the funder’s impact, the better your chances of winning. Have you ever spent weeks on a proposal only to get rejected? What did you learn from the experience? Let’s talk in the comments.  #GrantWriting #NonprofitFunding #FundingOpportunities

5 Common Mistakes I See When Reviewing Funding Proposals As someone who reviews many grant applications, I often see the same mistakes over and over. These mistakes can hurt your chances of getting the funding you need. The good news is that you can identify and fix these mistakes. Here are five common ones: 1. Unclear Story A successful proposal has a clear explanation of the problem you're addressing and why it matters. Many proposals fail because they don't clearly explain what they aim to solve. Think of your proposal like a story — start simple by explaining the problem, why it's important, and how your project will solve it. Make sure anyone, regardless of their background, can understand what you plan to do, how you'll do it, and the project's timeline. 2. Lots of Fancy Words Using technical jargon can confuse people who are not experts in your field. While it's good to show your expertise, using too many specialized terms can make your proposal hard to follow. Remember: the reviewer may not be familiar with jargon specific to your field. Use simple language whenever possible, and clearly explain any technical terms you must use. This makes your proposal easier to understand for everyone, which increases your chances of getting funding. 3. Unrealistic Promises Avoid making promises that are too big or unrealistic. It's tempting to talk about the huge impact your project could have, but this can make reviewers skeptical. Instead, focus on realistic goals that you can achieve with the funding and time available. Show that you have a good plan with achievable steps. This boosts your proposal’s credibility. 4. Lack of Preliminary Data Many proposals don't include enough initial data to show that the project is feasible. Preliminary data can prove that your project is based on solid methods and initial results are promising. Without this, reviewers might doubt your project’s viability. Include relevant initial data to show that your project has a good chance of success. 5. Poor Budget Justification An unclear or excessive budget request can be a major problem. Often, proposals request more funding than seems necessary without explaining why. Be detailed in explaining how the funding will be spent and why it’s necessary for your project. A clear and well-justified budget can greatly enhance your proposal’s credibility. Conclusion When writing a funding proposal, remember these five tips: tell a simple and clear story, avoid complex language, make realistic promises, include preliminary data, and provide a detailed budget explanation. By following these guidelines, you increase the chances that reviewers will understand and support your project, making it more likely that you'll receive funding. #engineering #science #research #mtvconsortium #funding #writing #proposal Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences—University of Michigan University of Michigan College of Engineering

🔹Tips for writing a winning GRANT PROPOSAL 🎯 Grant writing can feel overwhelming, but it is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Phenny A. Omondi, MSc, and I began writing grant proposals during our undergraduate days at Universidad EARTH. Over the years, we’ve secured funding from organizations like the Mastercard Foundation, Wege Foundation, Clinton Foundation, Changes for Humanity, etc. to support the operations of a community-based organization we founded in Kenya (Kilimo Jijini). When I started graduate school, I further polished my grant writing skills by enrolling in a transformative 3-credit Grant Writing course taught by Dr. Jaret Daniels, and since then together with my advisor, we have submitted small and huge grant proposals worth millions of dollars to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), etc. Here are some key lessons I’ve learned along the way: 1. Start early Give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, and revise. Rushed proposals often lack polish and clarity. 2. Know your audience Research the funding agency’s mission, priorities, and target outcomes. Align your goals with their vision. 3. Focus on impact Clearly state how your research will address a problem and make a meaningful difference. Highlight real-world applications. 4. Tell a compelling story Proposals aren’t just data - they’re narratives. Make your introduction engaging and persuasive. Show passion for your work. 5. Define clear objectives Be specific about what you want to achieve and how you’ll measure success. Funders want results, not vague ideas. 6. Plan a realistic budget Outline costs with transparency and accuracy. Avoid overestimating but don’t undersell what you need to succeed. 7. Highlight your team’s expertise Funders invest in people as much as ideas. Showcase your team’s qualifications and past successes. And how that adds value to your idea. 8. Provide a timeline Break down your project into phases with deadlines. A clear timeline shows you’ve thought through the process 9. Proofread and seek feedback Ask mentors or colleagues to review your draft. They can spot weaknesses and suggest improvements you may have missed. 10. Follow instructions Carefully read and follow the funding agency’s guidelines. Missing a formatting detail or word limit can disqualify your proposal. 👉 What’s your experience with grant writing? Repost ♻️ to help someone else! #GrantWritingTips #ResearchFunding #AcademicSuccess #Mentorship #STEMResearch #WomenInSTEM #ResearchProposals University of Florida

For the past two months, I’ve been coaching several SMEs, startups, and entrepreneurs on EU funding opportunities — and it’s been an incredibly rewarding journey. I truly believe that EU funding is so much more than just financial support. It creates an ecosystem — bringing together people from diverse cultures, countries, and visions. 🌍 For those who haven’t connected with me yet, here’s a guide to navigating EU funding: 🚀 Where to start? 1. Self-reflect - Can this project be done with others? ( if the answer is no, follow my other posts about cascade funding ) - Do you need complementary partners? - Is your idea innovative or something new to the market? 2.Find calls - Once you’ve decided to collaborate with partners from EU or associated countries, visit the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. - Search by keyword or browse open calls. 3. Review eligibility - Check the call’s eligibility criteria, rules, and requirements. Each funding line has its own procedures. 4. Build your project Ensure your proposal includes: - Clear objectives - Strong alignment with EU goals and the call’s requirements - A complementary consortium - A realistic budget and timeline 5. Complete the application - Download the latest form from the portal. - Discuss the project thoroughly with your team and partners before writing. Keep it simple — evaluators have limited time. Focus on impact, not technical jargon. - If you use AI, be transparent and responsible — delete prompts, and do not copy-paste ChatGPT replies. 6. Submit your proposal Don’t wait until the deadline — missing partner inputs or technical issues can create last minute problems:) ✅ Final tip Fingers crossed for your grant — and remember, EU funding isn’t just money. It’s a gateway to new partnerships, innovation, and growth across borders. 🤝 #eufunding #horizoneurope

Unlocking the Secrets to Research Grant Success Navigating the world of research grants can feel like trying to decipher an ancient code. Especially when you're at the starting line, looking at a blank page, wondering where to even begin. I've been there. But now, with a 50% success rate under my belt, I'm pulling back the curtain on the process that transformed my approach. ⛔ It's not just about having a groundbreaking idea. ✅ It's about strategically developing that idea into a grant application that funders can't ignore. Here's how: 1️⃣ Begin with a spark. Ensure your idea not only ignites your passion but is rooted in your field and track record. 2️⃣ Alignment is key. Your vision must dovetail with funder priorities. If it doesn't, it's back to the drawing board. 3️⃣ Seed funding is your best friend. It's the small push that sets everything into motion, enabling preliminary steps without a huge investment. 4️⃣ Stakeholder engagement is not optional. Use seed funding for scoping workshops. This is where your idea starts to take on a life of its own. 5️⃣ Position papers are your secret weapon. They, along with stakeholder input, lay the foundation for your grant and help reel in key partners. 6️⃣ Collaboration breeds innovation. Co-design your grant with partners who add value and insight. Then invite them into your grant as partners or collaborators 7️⃣ Peer review is a gift, not a chore. Embrace it, refine your proposal, and emerge stronger. 8️⃣ Submit with confidence. You've done the groundwork. Now, it's out of your hands and into the funders'. Even as an established professor, this is the blueprint I follow. It's not just about securing funding; it's about: ✅ refining ideas, ✅ fostering partnerships, ✅ propelling your research forward. If you're standing at the starting line, remember: 👉 every successful grant writer was once where you are now. Your groundbreaking idea deserves to be shared with the world. What other approaches do you use to increase research grant writing success? 🔄 repost to help a friend :) -------------------- If you liked this, join my newsletter that teaches you how to secure a tenure-tack job and navigate academia as an early career researcher: https://lnkd.in/eNAjgrY9

Grant Writing: What Not to Do! I’m often asked about the keys to writing successful grant applications. Though I no longer focus on application development, 16 years ago, I founded a firm that has secured and continues to manage compliance for over $1 billion in funding. My #1 tip for what not to do: Don’t chase money by rushing into an application for a project that isn’t fully fleshed out—even if the funding source is a fit with your organization. Grant funding is a responsibility, not just an opportunity. When I started CU Strategic Planning (and the firm continues to advise clients today), we emphasized that U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) grants are multi-year business plans. Would your $250 million or $10 billion financial institution develop a multi-year business plan with a rush turn-around? Refining products, partnerships, policies, and projections for any multi-year activity requires thorough, thoughtful planning across departments, in the community, and with full buy-in from the executive team. Successful planning isn’t just about winning the funding—it’s about the commitment to successfully implement the plan. This is why our business planning for CDFI applications always started a year before the application deadline, with economic development research, partnership development, product enhancement, use of funds, and accompanying projections and implementation plans. With diligent strategy and preparation, our firm consistently secured, on average, $100,000 more than the peer applications year after year. The key takeaway: Time is an important resource. If you have a fully fleshed-out strategy, established partnerships, and a solid plan, now’s the time to apply. This isn’t just true for #CDFI #grants, this is true for any grant application. The 2025 CDFI application opened today and I care about the limited resource of time for small asset sized applicants, and the ethics of consultants taking money for developing complex plans at the last minute. If you don’t yet have a comprehensive plan, I encourage you to take a year to develop it—so you can apply with confidence and set yourself up for success. A Note About Working with Consultants If a consultant has availability right after a federal grant application release, consider why. Your organization deserves a proactive consultant with the same expertise in their field that you have in yours. Look for someone who is deeply embedded in your #mission, offers strategic insight including programatic development, and can help you plan beyond just meeting deadlines. The best consultants work with you long-term, not just when the application window opens. Perhaps too easily written by someone that no longer writes grants! (Thank you to Callahan & Associates, Inc. for it’s acquisition of CU Strategic Planning so that every staff member could become an owner as part of the ESOP!) #grantwriting

A few years back, a client came to me with a request to do a compliance review of their proposal. Unfortunately there were a lot of issues in my review.   The writer either developed or was provided an outline that was so far away from the proposal guidance they were now missing key content. The writing was good! But it wasn’t compliant and there was no way it would be a winning proposal. They would have saved themselves a lot of work if the proposal were outlined correctly from the start.   The job of creating a proposal outline of the technical narrative and annexes can fall to the proposal coordinator, manager, or writer. That’s why it’s important for anyone who may fall into any of these roles to know how to make a great one.   These are just a few ways that I’ve learned to set up a successful proposal outline - and keep from deviating from that outline throughout the process.   1.    Follow. The. Guidance. (headings and sub-headings) For my USAID bidders, I can tell you exactly where to find this key information - Section D: Application and Submission Information and Section E: Application Review Information. Why and? Because sometimes these sections have conflicting information. My vote is to start with Section D to set the headings and sub-headings for sections using exactly the same language that the solicitation did. That just makes it that much easier for a reviewer to find what they're looking for! 2.    Follow. The. Guidance. (for formatting) Now is the time to set up your document so the layout aligns to the correct page size, margins, and section breaks. Make the color scheme match your company branding. 3.    Keep Donor Guidance Front and Center: Add the evaluation guidance and section guidance from the donor in comment boxes throughout the draft. Including the page lengths for each section in those comment boxes is key. 4.    Set Aside Space for Graphics: Inserting where a theory of change or a staffing table or an organization chart will need to be added up front shows the writer and reviewers where space needs to be set aside. 5.    Review the Outline Together: Whether at a kick-off meeting or at another proposal writers meeting, go over the entire outline with anyone who will be involved in contributing to the text. In that meeting go through the requirements for each section, ensure you have clarity on who is responsible for contributing and “owning” each piece. Make sure everyone understands the space constraints for each section. Keeping these recommendations in mind will lay the foundation for a compliant proposal - the first step toward a win.