I Submitted a Grant— Here’s Exactly What I Do Next...

My 3-step system for staying sane after hitting ‘submit.’

Was applying for a $5,000 grant worth my time? Let’s do the math.

🕒 Total time invested: 3 hours and 15 minutes
✍🏾 Writing: 2 hours
✂️ Editing: 1 hour

If I win? That’s approximately $1,587/hour.

Wild, right?

But here’s the truth: I have no idea if I’ll get it.

Do I hope so? Absolutely.

Am I spiraling about it? Not even a little.

Why?

Because once I hit submit, I follow a simple 3-step system that keeps me organized, focused, and emotionally intact. 👇🏾

---

Step 1: Update my Grant Application Planner

I log everything — deadline, grant amount, what I submitted, key dates, links — in one color-coded spreadsheet.

No digging through emails or Google Drive folders.

No “where did I save that?” panic later on.

---

Step 2: I add the notification date to my calendar

I set a calendar reminder if the funder shares when decisions are made.

That way, I’m not constantly checking my inbox — I wait for the alert.

Pro Tip: Some funders announce winners on Instagram or Twitter. I follow their socials, so I’m in the loop.

---

Step 3: I pat myself on the back and move on

Seriously. I did my part. No need to spiral. No need to wonder.

I get back to creating (and applying for the next one), knowing I showed up and did the work.

---

If you don’t already have a workflow to track submissions, deadlines, documents, and decision dates, download our Grant Application Planner.

Designed for creatives and small business owners, it bookmarks grants you love and tracks every step of the grant submission process.

We've already thought of everything you need to track, so you don't have to.

If you want to customize it, that’s fine, too; it’s an editable Google Sheets template.

Grab it here → Grant Application Planner

---

P.S. Join me on Substack where we chat about how you may be applying for the wrong grants, and what you can do about it.

P.S.S. I’m toying with the idea of starting a YouTube channel for Grants For Creators. But I’m honestly nervous about it— probably more nervous than I felt when I launched this newsletter in 2022 lol.

If it’s something you think I should pursue, please subscribe here. Would love to get to 1,000+ subscribers before publishing our first video.

Danielle Corbett | Grants For Creators | Browse June Deadlines | Browse May Deadlines