How Many Grants Should You Apply For Each Month?
The number just might surprise you.
If you're trying to figure out how many grants you should apply for each month, you're not alone. This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get from creators, and I totally get why.
Is it two? Five? Ten?
*Hint: it changes month to month*
Before we dig in, a big thank you to Lex Roman for sponsoring our newsletter!
Wish you could have your own paid newsletter, but aren’t sure how to make a living from reader subscriptions? Newsletter writer Lex Roman tells all about their paid subscription business in Revenue Rulebreaker.
It’s Not About Hitting a Magic Number
Here’s the truth: there’s no universal “right” number of grants to apply for each month.
What really matters is capacity over quantity.
Instead of focusing on how many you can apply for, ask:
Do I meet the eligibility criteria 100%?
Do I have time to write a thoughtful application?
Does this grant align with my goals and my work?
Can I see myself and the funder on a billboard together? (In other words: are our missions and values aligned?)
A $500 grant with 50 application questions? Probably not worth it.
But a $10,000 grant with a strong alignment to your work? That may be worth your time, even if it’s the only one you apply for this month.
Capacity: The Honest Starting Point
Grants take time.
They take time to find and even more time to apply for.
Even if you’re using templates, reusing previous answers, or getting a head start with AI prompts, each submission still requires:
Researching the funder and past grant recipients
Tailoring your responses
Shooting and editing videos (Eeeeeek! This one really gets me)
If your calendar is already full with client work, content creation, or launches, it might not be the season to chase lots of grants.
However, if you’re in a slower season, it might be a great time to ramp things up.
Read Next: 6 Types of Funding Opportunities Every Creator Should Know About
Some months, you may apply to one or two. Other months—especially if you’re riding momentum or things slow down in your business—you may go after four or five.
Earlier this year, I applied for four grants in a month. I was feeling excited, focused, and could give it my all.
The next month? Just one. And it was painful to get that one in on time!
There will be months when you apply for zero. And that’s okay.
This is a long game. Like any other skill, you get better the more you practice.
The Bottom Line: Avoid Quotas
Some months, the stars will align. The perfect grant will show up, and you’ll have the time to go for it. Other times, it’ll be quiet, or life gets busy. That’s all part of the creative entrepreneurial journey.
Instead of asking, “How many grants should I apply for?” start asking, “What funding opportunities are most aligned with my creative work right now?”
Because we’re not just applying for the sake of it, right?
We’re making strategic moves toward funding our life’s work.
Cheering you on, always.
Danielle Desir Corbett
Agreed. I had applied for grants for months. More like years and nothing. I finally found four grants that aligned with my work and I got two of the four. Alignment above all else.
Thank you for all this guidance and insight 🙏