Grant writing can feel like a heavy lift. There’s pressure to get it right. Pressure to impress. Pressure to say everything about your organization and your work.
But in my experience, better proposals aren’t the ones that try to do more. They’re the ones that do a few key things really, really well.
Here are five ways to make your grant proposal better—without making it longer, fancier, or more complicated.
1. Longer is not necessarily better (and is sometimes worse).
Yes, you have a lot to say. Your organization and your programs are meaningful, impactful, and worthy of funding. But when a proposal tries to say everything, it often ends up saying nothing clearly. Proposals that are too long become diffuse. They lose focus. The most important ideas get buried.
Challenge yourself to cut.
Cut words.
Cut sentences.
Cut entire paragraphs.
When you do, something powerful happens: what really matters starts to stand out.
2. Fancier is not necessarily better (and is almost always worse).
You do not need to sound like a thesaurus to write a compelling proposal. In fact, overly formal or “fancy” language often creates distance between you and the reader.
Clarity is what makes a proposal memorable. Instead of trying to impress with big words, aim to communicate:
- What you do
- Why it matters
- Who it helps
- What will change
If you can say something in 6 words instead of 20, do it.
3. Make sure you are applying for the right thing, at the right time, to the right place.
Before you write a single word, ask yourself:
- Is this funder actually interested in what we do?
- Are they currently accepting applications?
- Does our work align with their priorities?
The greatest proposal in the world won’t do squat if it’s sent to a funder who:
- Doesn’t fund your type of work
- Isn’t accepting proposals
- Isn’t a good fit for your organization
A strong proposal starts with a strong match.
4. Wait a day, then read it again.
If you can get someone else to review your proposal, fantastic. If you can’t, here’s the next best thing:
Step away.
Give it a day. Then come back and read it with fresh eyes. Better yet — print it out, and read it on good ole’ fashioned paper.
When you read your work with “fresh eyes,” you’ll be amazed at what you find.
5. Don’t depend on AI.
I know. It’s tempting. “I’ll just have AI write it!”
AI can absolutely be helpful for brainstorming, outlining, or getting a rough draft started. But here’s the reality:
Unless it’s been very carefully guided, AI won’t sound like you. It won’t reflect your organization’s authentic voice. And it will make decisions about what to include, and what to leave out, that you may not agree with.
If you use AI, think of it like an intern.
Helpful? Yes.
Capable? Often.
Ready to submit something final without review? Absolutely not.
Would you submit a grant proposal written entirely by an intern?
Exactly.
The Bottom Line
Better grant proposals are not about doing more.
They’re about doing the right things:
- Being clear instead of long
- Being direct instead of fancy
- Being strategic instead of reactive
- Taking time to review
- And keeping your authentic voice front and center
There are, of course, many more strategies that can strengthen your proposals—but if you focus on these five, you’ll already be ahead of the pack.
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