success

Grant Procurement Isn`t Just About Better Proposals

When grant funding becomes more competitive, institutions often respond in a familiar way: they encourage faculty to attend another grant-writing workshop. While stronger writing is certainly beneficial, today’s funding environment suggests that writing alone is no longer enough. The reality is that many well-crafted proposals are not being funded. The reasons often have little to… read more

writing

The Most Urgent Issue for Foundation Grantees Right Now

The most urgent issue for foundation grants is not just competition, but fit. Foundations are increasingly selective, and grant writers have to show tight alignment with a foundation’s mission, priorities, geography, and past giving. Foundation grant pressure Foundation grant writers are under pressure because many foundations fund only a narrow slice of organizations, projects, or… read more

success

How Funding Is Changing & What Grant Seekers in the U.S. & Canada Need to Know

The funding landscape across the United States and Canada is undergoing significant change. Federal agencies and private foundations alike are reshaping how they allocate funds and evaluate proposals. For grant seekers, understanding these shifts is no longer optional, it is essential. Increased competition, lower success rates Across major federal agencies, proposal success rates are tightening…. read more

Federal Funding

Mounting Pressures Facing University Research

At a recent forum convened by the Grant Training Center, research administrators from various institutions shared concerns facing research at their institutions. A central anxiety involves expanding restrictions around “countries of concern”, heightened scrutiny of international collaborations, and diminished communication from federal agencies. University compliance officers and faculty feel bewildered by shifting rules and potential… read more

Leader

Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Federal Grants

In light of recent developments, the federal grant landscape has undergone significant changes, creating uncertainty for many researchers and institutions. The recent Executive Order signed on February 26, 2025, has introduced sweeping changes to how federal discretionary funding is managed. While this situation may seem daunting, it’s crucial to remember that there are alternative funding… read more

success

Key Trends in Grant Funding

In recent months, several trends have emerged in the landscape of grant procurement, reflecting both ongoing challenges and new opportunities. These include: Increasing emphasis on grants that address pressing societal issues, such as climate change, public health, and social inequality. For example, there has been a surge in grants for renewable energy research, community health… read more

writing

The Letter That Will Get You Funded

In order to assess the validity of a proposal in relationship to the solicitation, many donors, especially foundations, request a Letter of Intent (LOI) from future applicants. This is the letter that will lead to the invitation to apply for the grant. If the application that follows meets the donor’s criteria and is well written,… read more

virtual

Going Virtual: A Paradigm Shift for Grants

With the rise of working from home, organizations and universities transitioning online, and even pandemics, it’s no surprise that video conferencing has become an integral part of our working lives. According to Video Conferencing Statistics, 94% of institutions claim that video conferencing has increased their productivity.Research to date demonstrates both the challenges and opportunities of… read more

success

How to Build a Successful Nonprofit

The key to maintaining a successful nonprofit organization is to have a diverse fundraising strategy that builds upon your organization’s core strengths and resources. It is essential, therefore, to know your organization, understand your place in the giving community, and build on your strengths and resources. Once, when I worked for a small, under-resourced organization,… read more

international

Foundations & Corporations: The Art of Procuring International Funding

In my last blog, I discussed United States federal funding for international programs and research. In this article, I will focus on foundation giving for international programs. According to The State of Global Giving by U.S. Foundations, during a five-year study from 2011-2015, grant-making by American foundations to charitable organizations outside the United States reached… read more