Before Applying To Grants, Ask These 9 Essential Questions
Your exclusive guide to qualifying the right grants and increasing your chances of success.
Thank you for being a valued member of our community.
For the past few months, I have been working on an exclusive resource for our paid subscribers to ensure the grants you apply for align with your goals.
Exclusive to our paid subscribers, I am excited to share “Questions Creators Should Ask Before Applying For Grants,” a practical guide to help you focus on the right opportunities, move forward confidently, and improve your chances of success.
In this quick read, I break down the essential questions you need to ask yourself to determine whether your project meets the eligibility criteria, aligns with funder goals, and more.
You can access this guide (an unlimited amount of times) for the duration of your paid subscription. Feel free to reply or comment with any AHA moments or insights.
Pro Tip: Access this post in the Substack app, then click on the play button (top right) to have this post read to you like an audiobook. 😏
Cheers to securing funding for your work and all the wonderful things you’ll create!
Now, let’s get started.
Danielle Corbett, Grants For Creators Founder & Author
These days, I can skim through a grant announcement and, within a few minutes, determine whether it is worth applying for. Although it took me a while to develop this skill, it now feels like second nature.
As the founder of Grants For Creators, my team and I dedicate countless hours to uncovering grants. In 2022, we uncovered 648 funding opportunities, and in 2023, we identified 1,048 grants, proving there is no shortage of awards available for creatives and small business owners.
During a recent workshop I hosted, an attendee shared with me how they have been sitting on the sidelines for months, contemplating applying for grants. While they saw several funding opportunities that piqued their interest, they hesitated.
Why?
Firstly, they were not sure which funding opportunities to pursue, and secondly, they worried about wasting time on irrelevant awards—all legitimate concerns.
This brings us to an important question: How do you decide whether or not to apply for a grant?
Deciding which grants to apply to can be overwhelming, especially if you do not have a process to rule out irrelevant awards. But once you have a clear process, it can be a huge relief, guiding you through the decision-making process.
A lot of creatives are ruling out perfect-fit grants they probably should pursue. Others are not being picky enough; they apply to everything under the sun, hoping the spray and pray approach will work in their favor. By posing nine questions, you can confidently discern which grants are worth your time and which ones to skip.
Feel more confident knowing your time and effort pursuing grants will not be in vain. Put your best foot forward as you strategically select promising awards that closely align with your goals and will likely yield the best outcomes: funds to support your work.
Instructions: Answering “Yes” to all the questions below indicates you should apply for a grant.