Why Grant Writing Isn’t Instant Mashed Potatoes

We live in a microwave culture. Push a button, get results. But grant writing? It’s not instant mashed potatoes. You can’t just add hot water, stir, and expect a million-dollar award to

appear.

The reality is that successful grants take groundwork. Funders want to see that you’re prepared, organized, and serious about the work you do. That means having strong financial systems, clean data, clear program descriptions, and leadership that can articulate your mission without sounding like they’re reading a riddle. It also means having the capacity to track outcomes and prove impact, not just vibes.

Think about it like Thanksgiving dinner. Nobody’s grandmother is pulling out a box of instant potatoes when the whole family is coming over. She’s peeling, boiling, mashing, and seasoning. She’s putting in the time and care it takes to make something that’s actually satisfying. Grant writing is the same way. If you want the good stuff, you have to do the prep work.

So what does that prep look like? Here are a few ingredients every “from scratch” grant strategy needs:

• Data you can trust. Funders don’t just want to know what you do. They want proof it works. Think outputs (numbers), outcomes, demographics, and true impact stories.

• Budgets that make sense. No funder wants to dig through a spreadsheet that hasn’t been updated since the Obama administration.

• A strong narrative. If your mission statement reads like a fiction novel, it’s time to rewrite it. You need a clear, compelling story that connects with both hearts and heads.

• Internal alignment. Your staff and board should be on the same page. Nothing derails an application faster than conflicting information coming from different corners of an organization.

The truth is, if you skip the hard parts, you don’t get fluffy potatoes. You get lumpy, undercooked mush that funders can smell a mile away, and no amount of gravy is going to fix that crap. But when you put in the time to peel, boil, mash, and season, the result is something that funders actually want to come back for seconds on!

So if you’re looking for quick fixes or overnight miracles, grants probably aren’t your thing. But if you’re ready to invest the time and do the work, the payoff will likely fill your plate and keep the funding coming year after year.

Happy November, friends! May your mashed potatoes be fluffy, your proposals be strong, and your funding be plentiful (and may nobody show up with boxed potatoes).