How to Know if Your Nonprofit is Grant Ready

By Andra Ingalls, MPA

An acquaintance reached out to me recently for advice on grant funding. Our paths have crossed for years. This gentleman is full of compassion; a true champion for the underdog, especially young men who are struggling to find their way forward. He asked if we could meet for coffee so he could share what was on his heart, and before I took the first sip, he launched into his passionate description of a multi-phase program designed to help these young men build a new path. Finally, full of expectation, he asked if I could help him find grants to get started. “Surely, there’s a grant for that,” he figured.

Well…

I asked about his nonprofit status and board members. That is when reality came calling. He had neither. 

If you’re reading this post, you are likely farther along the journey than my friend was. Still, this kind of moment is common: the vision is strong and the desire to help is sincere, but the pillars needed to support grant funding are not yet in place.

Many nonprofit leaders want to secure grant funding. Naturally! Grants can be an important part of a diversified funding plan. Yet there is a critical question to ask before the search. 

Is your organization truly ready for grants?

Grant readiness is more than having a strong passion and the desire to fund it. It is the structure that helps you operate with excellence, tell a clear story, develop authentic donor relationships, and manage the funding entrusted to you.

Here are four best practices that reveal whether your nonprofit is positioned for success.

Pillar 1: Clear Mission and Program Focus

Funders look for clarity. They want to understand what you do, who you serve, and why your work matters. When your mission and programs are focused, you help the right partners recognize the alignment they already feel with your work.

You are grant ready when you can explain your mission in plain language. You can name your target population, identify the problem you address, and describe the services you provide. You can articulate the impact your work creates.

Clarity builds trust. It signals that your organization is thoughtful, purposeful and focused on solving real problems. It positions you to connect with people who care about the very work you are doing.

Clarity helps you and aligned funders meet around shared purpose.

Pillar 2: Clear Evidence of Impact

Funders want to see how your work creates real change. They look for organizations that pursue their mission with integrity and excellence. When you measure your impact, you help partners see the quality of your work and the difference it makes in people’s lives.

You are grant ready when you track meaningful data. You record outputs, such as the number of people served, and outcomes, such as increased stability, improved skills, or progress toward long-term goals. You also gather client stories that reveal the human side of your mission.

Strong outcomes demonstrate excellence. They show that your programs are effective, responsible, and aligned with the results you are working toward.

Clear evidence of impact helps like-hearted funders invest with purpose and confidence.

Pillar 3: Engaged Board Leadership

Funders view your board as a key indicator of organizational health. Skilled board members create stability, accountability, and momentum. They recognize that board service goes beyond cheering for the cause. It includes stewardship, steady decision-making, and help in building relationships that strengthen the organization.

You are grant ready when your board is engaged and prepared to lead. Members attend meetings and come prepared. They understand their governance responsibilities, bring diverse professional strengths, and lend thoughtful support to the mission.

Your board does not need to be deeply experienced, but it should be committed to learning and growing. Healthy engagement shows that your leaders take their responsibilities seriously and are ready to support the expectations that come with grant funding.

An engaged board assures partners that your organization can sustain its mission with integrity and purpose.

Pillar 4: Capacity to Steward Grants With Excellence

Funders want to know that your organization can steward their investment with excellence. Capacity shows up in how well you manage your resources: staff time, volunteer talent, program operations, and the financial support entrusted to you.

You are grant ready when your internal systems support the mission and the people who carry it out. You have clear processes for tracking spending, gathering data, and completing reports on time. You understand who is responsible for each task and protect staff and volunteers from burnout by setting realistic expectations.

Strong internal systems assure funders that you can carry out the work with integrity and excellence.

Capacity reflects sound stewardship. It shows that your organization uses its resources wisely and honors partners’ trust.

Grant readiness is a process, and every step you strengthen today supports the mission you serve tomorrow. If you would like a conversation about where your organization stands and what next steps might help, I would be glad to talk.

You can schedule a time that works for you here: https://calendly.com/andra-grantworks/30min