How to Overcome Grant Rejection

Let's face it: rejection stings. When we invest many hours of our week researching and developing something that matters to us, it's only natural to feel disappointment when an idea gets rejected. If you are reading this, you have probably faced a recent rejection of your grant application. When a grant application gets rejected by a major funder, our immediate reaction might be to give up and focus on the loss.

We hear you!

Despite the gut-wrenching news, we can use a rejected grant application as an opportunity to learn by asking for feedback from the grant funder. Approaching rejection with a learning mindset can completely change how we view grant applications in the future and increase our chances of winning one.

We know it's easier said than done, though...

Here are five tips for overcoming rejection after submitting a grant application:

1. Request a phone conversation with the grant funder to learn their scoring process. This information will be invaluable to any potential applications you submit in the future. It's also a sure way to help you strengthen your grant-writing application skills!

2. Discuss what you can do better next time together. Debrief with your team, grant writer, program managers, and anybody else who helped develop the budget for a grant application. Brainstorm how you might use grant applications as tools and the type of language to use for potential applications. If you're not working from funder feedback, focus on the sections you felt proud of. What budgets, outcomes, or project descriptions did you prepare that you can recycle in a future grant application?

3. Broaden your grant search. Use credible search engines for information like ProPublica, a free 990 research tool, or Foundation Directory Online, a subscription-based service that easily categorizes new funders with their giving history or grant opportunities. Be sure to also connect with the Bloom team for prospect research support! We're here to support you in all stages of your grant writing journey.

4. Hire a grant-writing coach. Our team at Bloom helps clients strengthen their applications to win funding in the future. This includes coaching on how to plan for grants to reduce overwhelm and how to approach the right funders to sustain and grow revenue. Complete our interest form to schedule a 60-minute consultation for an initial interest chat or grant post-mortem meeting.

5. Talk with funders in advance. Increase your chances of a successful grant application in the future by requesting informational interviews with funders before submitting your application. Planning ahead is key. We can help you prepare for these conversations!

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Need support with grant writing? Complete our Interest Form to schedule a consultation.

We'd love to support you!

- Jacquee + Alex

5 Questions to Ask a Grant Funder

Applying for grants can seem intimidating and scary, but we promise they don’t have to be! There are ways to calm concerns about deadlines and the decision-making process when applying for new grants.

Here are a few factors our team at Bloom Grant Consulting considers before getting started:

• Resources. Our relationship and the right amount of tools and language that has already been developed (i.e., the foundation of work together). If we just started working together, it might be harder to work on a grant together.

• Set the capacity. Get clear with everyone, including BGC staff, to determine everyone's capacity for work. BGC shifts projects to be collaborative vs. independent when new or unplanned deadlines are involved.

• Consider other priorities at the moment.

  • Are the board and staff relying on you to complete other major tasks within this deadline (i.e., prioritizing an already internal deadline)?

  • If we work together and you decide to move forward with a grant, our team will discuss how to best prioritize a grant application together and set a timeline together.

At this point, you know you have the resources, capacity, and priorities are lined up. Next, here are five questions to ask a grant funder when discovering a new grant opportunity:

1. Tell me more about what excites the foundation lately.

2. Would you consider a multi-year gift?

3. Would you be open to reviewing a quick pitch over email to make sure we're aligned?

4. What new priorities are the board considering as they plan for the next five to ten years and why?

5. In what ways does the foundation make efforts to maintain relationships with their grantees?

We’re here to help at any stage of your grant writing journey. Our Blossom Bundle helps clients start the process of becoming grant ready in just three months! Contact us to learn more.

We look forward to supporting you!

Jacquee + Alex