If I Was Your Grant Writer: I’d Be Telling You, It’s Not You, It’s The Market

Public dollars? Slashed. Private foundations? Flooded with more applications than they’ve ever seen. Organizations that used to have a decent shot? They’re getting rejection after rejection.

And just because the need is bigger doesn’t mean private funders suddenly have more money to hand out. They don’t. There’s no secret vault of cash waiting to save the day.

That’s the mess we’re all trying to navigate right now – a tough, competitive, and frankly shitty reality.

Here’s what that looks like in real time:

• More competition than ever. Applications that might’ve had a fighting chance two years ago are now stacked against three, five, sometimes ten times as many applicants.

• Win rates are dropping. Even strong, polished, aligned applications are hitting walls. However, it’s not because you did anything wrong. It’s because there simply isn’t enough money to go around.

• Organizations in critical need are stretched thin. Leaders are spending hours chasing fewer dollars, often at the expense of the very programs they’re trying to keep alive.

And here’s the kicker: it’s not just how many applications are flooding in. It’s who you’re up against!

Let’s say a private foundation funds youth sports, workforce development, and human services/basic needs. They’re getting five times as many requests as they can possibly fund. Now ask yourself honestly: if it comes down to your fun after-school soccer program or the organization making sure families can eat this week and keep the lights on… where do you think those dollars are going?

That doesn’t mean your work isn’t valuable. It is. But it does mean you have to understand the moment we’re in, the priorities funders are weighing, and the reality that “good” isn’t always “fundable” in today’s climate.

If I was your grant writer, here’s what I’d tell you:

• It’s not you. It’s the market. Stop beating yourself up over every “no.” Right now, a “no” doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t tell your story well or that your mission isn’t important. It might just mean the funder had to make impossible choices.

• Now is the time to tighten your strategy, not panic. This is when you double down on strong relationships with funders, make sure your narrative is airtight, and only go after opportunities that truly fit. The scattershot approach (“let’s apply for everything and hope something sticks”) is a recipe for burnout.

• Be realistic about funder priorities. If you’re going after dollars in a portfolio dominated by crisis-response programs, know where you stand and consider whether your time is best spent elsewhere.

• Diversify your funding streams. Relying on grants alone has always been risky, but in this climate? It’s like building your house on sand. You need something more solid under you. Individuals account for about two-thirds of all charitable giving in the U.S. every year. That’s not pocket change, it’s the biggest piece of the pie! Which means if you’re only chasing grants and ignoring individual donors, you’re leaving serious money on the table.

• Don’t disappear. Even if you’re not winning right now, stay visible. Keep funders updated, share your wins (even small ones), and remind them you’re still doing the work. When the market steadies—and it will—you’ll be remembered as the organization that kept showing up.

The no-BS truth? This season is hard, and I won’t sugarcoat it. But tough seasons also sharpen us. They force us to focus on what’s essential, tell our stories with even more clarity, and build relationships that will outlast the current mess.

So no, you’re not crazy, and yes, the grant world is rough right now, but you’re not powerless.

And if I was your grant writer, I’d help you stop spinning your wheels and start navigating this storm with strategy, not desperation.