Common Reasons Your Grant Application Got Rejected
Why funders say "No" and how you can win next time.
Over the years, I’ve seen more grant rejections than I can count. Some of the reasons are completely in your control, and others are just how the cards fall. Understanding both can help you improve your chances for next time.
Hey there, I’m Danielle Desir Corbett, a 6x grant-funded creator and the founder of Grants For Creators. Since 2022, I have helped over 17,000 U.S. creators tap into the world of grant funding to support their creative work. Our small but mighty team (shout out to , our Grant Manager extraordinaire) spends 30+ hours every week compiling this resource, and the work we do would not be possible without subscriber support. For Black Friday, our new paid subscribers can save $15 on annual subscriptions, locking in a yearly subscription for $85 instead of $100.
Here are the most common reasons grant applications get rejected and what you can do about them.
1. Reviewers didn’t understand your project
Sometimes, your application just isn’t clear enough.
Imagine explaining your project to a new friend over coffee — that’s the tone you want. Clearly share what you do, why it matters, and what the result or impact is/will be.
If a reviewer has to guess, your project won’t receive funding.
2. You failed to show momentum
This one I’ve learned the hard way.
Funders are looking for people and projects already in motion.
Think of it like a train: funders want to hop on board something that’s already moving, not halted indefinity at the station.
In your responses, show that you’ve thought through the work beyond the grant application. Indeed you are making progress (even if slow) and winning this grant will accelerate your growth.
3. You and the funder aren’t aligned
I call this the “billboard test.”
Imagine your grant-funded project on a billboard in Times Square.
Does your project line up with the funder mission, vision, and audience? If not, even though your project might be amazing, it won’t garner support.
Funders give grants to further their mission, not as charity.
4. Your confidence doesn’t come through
How you write matters. If your language comes across as desperate, overly self-critical, or unfocused, it can make funders hesitate.
I’m not saying to fake it but please own your worth.
Instead of: “I hope this project will help children learn to read.”
Say: “This project will help children improve literacy skills by…”
Instead of: “We will try to reach 50 families.”
Say: “We will reach 50 families through…”
See the difference?
Your creative project deserves funding, and your application should undoubtedly show that energy and belief.
Lastly, sometimes, your application is top tier, and although you followed every rule perfectly, other applications resonated more with the judges. That’s not a reflection on you or your project; it’s just how competitive grants can be.
💡Helpful Tip: Start tracking your success rate and identify patterns - whether you seem to win more local grants or hear back from specific types of funders.
Since tracking my numbers in this Grant Application Tracker, I’ve figured out my grant win rate and have proactively taken steps to improve each submission, like attending summits and workshops and even leveraging AI to draft polished first drafts (be on the lookout for our Black Friday offer where I’m sharing the exact ChatGPT prompts I use).
Overall, you cannot improve what you’re not tracking or intentionally trying to improve. That principle applies to winning grants, too.
Takeaway: Rejection is part of the process. As creators we face rejection regularly. When it comes to grants, most of the time, there’s something to learn and improve for next time.
Keep refining, building momentum, and applying.
After all, you automatically lose the grants you never submit.
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