[learn] Getting the grant
A no nonsense guide to getting those grants.
I have been writing grants for nearly 15 years now and I figured, why not put some of my thoughts down so hopefully others can benefit from it. So here’s five fundamentals that will get you ahead of 90% of others applying.
1. Understand and Prepare Thoroughly
Start by carefully reviewing every grant’s guidelines, eligibility rules, and submission requirements. Organise your key details—like deadlines, budgets, and supporting documents—upfront so you can focus on crafting a strong, targeted application.
2. Structure, Evidence & Budget for Impact
Use a clear application structure: define your project, its purpose, audience, and expected results. Build a realistic budget that includes your artist fee, key expenses, and shows financial viability. Back up your claims with supporting documents and specific data to strengthen your case.
3. Refine, Review & Seek Feedback
Edit your draft in phases, proofread for clarity, and ask peers or mentors for feedback. Make sure your application is detailed, easy to follow, and addresses all requirements before submitting. Be ready to answer follow-up questions and treat grant writing as a skill that improves with practice—don’t hesitate to seek support from grant officers.
+1. Make the effort
Don’t copy paste. This is both rookie and recognisable. The people reviewing your grant will know when something isn’t specifically written for them. It’s very to easy to tell. It shows lack of effort and commitment. And if you aren’t willing to make the effort to write a solid application, why would they fund you for it? Also, be careful of AI. Using AI to help you strengthen your application can be helpful, but it is likely they will use zeroGPT or something similar to check how much has been written by you and how much has been written by AI. You never know the position of a reviewer on AI, so please put it in your own words.
How can we help you? We offer grant discovery and application support. Email us to chat.