If I Was Your Grant Writer, I’d Tell You to Slow Down

March almost took me out.

On paper, it was one of our strongest months. We pushed out more grant applications than ever before, stayed on top of deadlines, and even brought on a new Grant Specialist to support growth. From the outside, it probably looked like we were crushing it.

But behind the scenes, it felt completely different.

To be honest, my personal life completely imploded, and trying to hold it all together at once was a lot. And even as someone who does this work every day and LOVES it, I hit a point this month where opening a grant application felt heavier than it should. Not because I don’t know what I’m doing, but because I was trying to keep operating at full speed with very real limits.

Now, as this month comes to a close, I’ve realized that I wasn’t overwhelmed because of the work.

I was overwhelmed because I was trying to operate like I had unlimited capacity.

And the moment I realized that I had to check myself the same way I would any other client, because if I were sitting across from you right now, I wouldn’t start with strategy.

I’d start with your capacity.

Because what I see all the time (and what I had to check in myself) is this constant pressure to keep going. To keep applying. To keep saying yes to every opportunity that crosses your desk.

On paper, that looks ambitious. In reality, it’s how teams burn out and end up submitting rushed applications that don’t reflect the quality of their work.

The truth is: not everything needs to be pursued right now.

I know that’s hard to hear. In this space, it can feel like saying no to funding means falling behind. However, chasing everything is usually what keeps you from winning what actually matters.

So if you’re in a season where your capacity is stretched thinner than you’d like to admit, I want you to simplify how you make decisions. Before you say yes to anything, ask yourself:

Is this aligned with what we do best and our mission?

Do we already have the data and story ready?

Do we have the time to do this well, not rushed or pieced together?

If it’s not a clear yes across the board, it’s okay to pass or at least pause.

Restraint is strategy. Pulling back on purpose is strategy. Protecting your capacity so you can show up strong for the right opportunities is 100% strategy.

Frankly, this month gave me a reminder I didn’t know I needed: slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re finally making decisions on purpose.

So if I was your grant writer, I’d tell you not to do more or push harder, but get honest about your capacity and move accordingly.

The goal isn’t to do the most. It’s to do the right things well.