How to avoid last-minute panic with grant applications

It’s no small task to put together a thorough and compelling grant application. But sometimes, the most stressful aspect can be completing the application when you’re against a deadline.

These 3 tips can help you avoid last-minute panic with grant applications:

Tip #1: Request all supporting materials.

Before you even start drafting the application, review the application start to finish to identify any required supporting materials you’ll need to submit. Presumably, some of those items are information or documents you’ll need to collect from colleagues. Reach out to let those colleagues know what you need and by when. (Tip: Build in at least a week’s cushion to allow sufficient turnaround time.) For example, if you’ll need to submit an unaudited profit and loss and balance sheet dated within 90 days, you’ll likely need your accountant to run that for you. Giving them ample notice will save both of you from last-minute stress. It can also help to give your colleague context as to why you need the requested document so they understand the importance of their contribution.

Tip #2: Upload supporting documents or print in advance.

Uploading supporting documents seems like the simplest part of the application process, but you could run into issues you don’t want to deal with under a time crunch. Don’t wait until the deadline day to upload attachments. As soon as you have a supporting document in hand, go ahead and upload it to the grant portal. This way, if any of the files are too large and need compressing, you have time to address this. Similarly, if you’ll be mailing an application, print completed items in advance.

Tip #3: Determine the specific details that will strengthen your application.

Go through each question on the application to make note of any statistics, program details, or key information you’ll need to incorporate into your grant narrative. This may be another area where you’ll need your colleagues to provide you with information, and if so, you’ll want to ask for it well in advance. You may find that a certain metric you’d like to include isn’t being tracked yet. The sooner you know that, the sooner you can either come up with a way to start tracking it, or you can look for an alternate way to make your case.

Conclusion

The benefits to following these tips as you build your grant application are two-fold: They may help you avoid last-minute panic as you’re applying for grants, and they may reveal that your organization isn’t ready to submit a strong application for this particular grant. If your organization is not ready, that’s not a failure—it’s an important, productive insight to have before you invest time and work wordsmithing the application. If you find yourself in this situation, you and your colleagues can table this application for now, make a plan for how to get the information you’ll need, and revisit the application in the future.