10 Grant Writing Mistakes You Didn't KKnow You Were Making

Grant writing is part art, part strategy, and part not-pulling-your-hair-out-over-a-budget-table. After years of helping nonprofits win (and lose) funding, I’ve seen patterns emerge.

Some mistakes are obvious (like submitting the wrong year’s budget). Others? Sneaky little saboteurs hiding in plain sight.

So whether you’re new to the grant world or have a few battle scars, here are 10 grant writing mistakes you didn’t know you were making. Plus, tip to help you course-correct like a pro.

1. Burying the “Why”

You’ve got a great program. But if you don’t make the need crystal clear in the first few paragraphs, you’ve lost your reader. Don’t assume funders know why your work matters—tell them upfront and back it up with data and heart.

🔧 How to Fix it: Lead with a compelling problem statement. Hook them with the urgency, then ease into the details.

2. Writing Like a Robot

Yes, professionalism matters. But at the end of the day, grant reviewers are human. If your proposal reads like it was written by a committee of beige index cards, it’s going to get lost in the pile.

🔧 How to Fix it: Write with clarity and warmth. Use real stories and avoid jargon soup. Make your proposal something people want to read.

3. Overloading on Data, Underloading on Impact

Stats are great—but not when they replace your story. A flood of numbers won’t move a funder unless they can see the real-world impact behind them.

🔧 How to Fix it: Use data to reinforce your message, not dominate it. Pair numbers with a compelling narrative to make your case hit differen.

4. Ignoring the Funder’s Priorities

You might be in love with your project, but if it’s not aligned with the funder’s goals, it’s a no-go.

🔧 How to Fix it: Tailor your proposal to each funder. Reference their mission, mirror their language, and show how your work helps them reach their goals.

5. Being Vague About Outcomes

Saying you want to “empower the community” or “break down a barrier” is lovely… but what does that actually look like?

🔧 How to Fix it: Be specific. What will change, for whom, and how will you measure it? Funders want results they can visualize and evaluate.

6. Glossing Over the Budget

Your narrative may shine, but if your budget doesn’t match, it could spoil the entire thing. Contradictions, wishful thinking, and inflated line items aqre a red flag for funders.

🔧 How to Fix it: Make sure your budget matches your activities. Include justifications and a budget narrative that gives a complete picture. And yes, it’s okay to budget for admin time (please do!).

7. Missing the Follow-Up Plan

Funders want to know: what happens after the grant? If it doesn’t seem like your project can continue past the final grant report, funders will see it as dead in the water. If you’re not explaining how your project continues or evolves, you’re missing a key piece.

🔧 How to Fix it: Add a sustainability plan, even if it’s modest. Show that you’re thinking long-term.

8. Forgetting the Human Element

You’re serving real people, not just theoretical numbers on a page. If that’s not coming through in your proposal, you’re missing your most powerful asset.

🔧 How to Fix it: Share a (respectful, anonymous) story of someone your work has helped. Let funders see the heart behind your mission.

9. Skipping the Proofread

I wish this weren’t on the list, because it is so easy to avoid!! But yes, people do submit proposals with typos, missing attachments, and “Dear [Insert Funder Name]” still in the salutation.

🔧 How to Fix it: Always, always, always double-check everything. Then ask a fresh pair of eyes to read it, too.

10. Trying to Do It All Alone

Grant writing is a team sport. If you’re writing in a vacuum, you might be missing valuable insights or, all too often, just burning out.

🔧 How to Fix it: Loop in program staff, finance, leadership, even past participants. Collaborating makes your proposal stronger and more authentic.

Final Thoughts from the (Fun-Loving) Grant Pro

No one nails it 100% of the time. The best grant writers I know are the ones who stay curious, keep learning, and aren’t afraid to tweak their process. (Yes, even mid-proposal.)

Avoiding these common mistakes won’t just make your proposals stronger. It’ll make you a more confident, strategic, and impactful grant writer. And if you ever want a second set of eyes, well… you know where to find me.

Let’s make those grants not just good, but irresistible.

Want more grant tips like this? Let’s connect on LinkedIn or reach out if your organization could use a little extra grant-writing magic.

Feature Image Credit: Randy Laybourne