Website design By BotEap.comGrant writing takes a lot of work and dedication, but it is not a short-term funding strategy. In fact, you will likely receive several rejections before you are successfully funded. But remember, those rejections are part of the grant process and are often more educational than your successful grants. Whether you are improving your grant writing skills or improving your relationship with God, each rejection can teach you something if you are willing to learn.

Website design By BotEap.comPay your dues! So you are applying for a federal grant that is offered every year. Your comments are good and your scores are high, but you did not receive funding. Like most things in life, something that gets a government grant simply comes down to paying your dues. With a limited amount of money, not all grants can be funded, not even all well-written grants. When in doubt, it may simply be due to your history.

Website design By BotEap.comYour first well-written application compared to a well-written application from an organization that has applied it in the last three years is very likely not enough. Do you remember the DUNS number you needed for the application? That allows the government to track all the grants you have applied for. Applying for several years in a row also shows the government that your organization is stable and has the outside resources to be around for a while, characteristics that all funders look for. I’ve experienced this personally, and while the first rejections are frustrating, getting that big government grant in year 3 makes it worth it. Not to mention improving your grant skills!

Website design By BotEap.comWe live in God’s time, not ours. While you may want a grant enormously, sometimes it just isn’t God’s time for you to have a grant. That by no means means that you shouldn’t bother applying. But you must also learn to accept rejections without losing your determination to succeed! As human beings, we are so used to the hustle and bustle of everyday life that all too often we lose sight of the mission we started with.

Website design By BotEap.comHere’s a real example. Several years ago, Jeffrey worked hard on a federal grant that was a perfect fit for his client. Despite the positive feedback and high scores, it received no funding. The following year he wanted to apply again, but couldn’t find anything to fix on the grant. So, he took out the old grant, changed all the dates, and resubmitted it word for word. That year his scholarship was funded! So why was the grant previously rejected? Maybe it just wasn’t God’s time to get the grant at the time.