Write Winning Grant Proposals. Keep Your Grantors Happy.

Securing a grant fuels a nonprofit’s mission, but writing a winning proposal is only the first step. Once you've secured funding, maintaining a strong relationship with grantors is critical for future opportunities. The real challenge begins after you win the grant—when you have to deliver on promises and prove your impact.

Here’s how to write proposals that stand out and keep grantors engaged long after the check is signed.

1. Start with the Right Research

The first secret to a successful grant application? Don’t start writing until you’ve done your research. Many organizations rush into grant writing before fully understanding what the grantor values or how their specific project fits into the bigger picture.

Just as investors look for alignment in for-profit businesses, grantors want to fund projects that match their goals. Before you put pen to paper, do a deep dive into the grantor’s mission, values, and past grants. What types of projects have they funded? What language do they use when describing success?

Actionable Tip: Tailor every proposal to the grantor’s priorities, not just your own. When your mission aligns with theirs, your proposal will resonate more deeply.

2. Make Your Proposal Clear and Measurable

A proposal is only as strong as its clarity. Funders want realism, not lofty goals. They need to see specific outcomes backed by measurable data.

In grant writing, vagueness is your enemy. Instead of saying, “Our program will help hundreds of students,” break it down: “Our program will provide 100 hours of educational support to 200 underserved students, improving test scores by an average of 15%.”

Actionable Tip: Include both qualitative and quantitative outcomes. Numbers alone aren’t enough; grantors also want to see how the lives of real people are impacted.

3. Keep Grantors in the Loop with Transparent Communication

The easiest way to strengthen relationships with grantors? Transparency. Once you’ve secured funding, regular updates are critical. Grantors don’t just want to hear from you when everything is going well—they want to hear from you when challenges arise too.

Think of grant reporting like checking in with a mentor. Share progress, successes, and—just as importantly—hurdles. Not everything will go as planned, and that’s okay. What matters most is your ability to adjust and keep pushing forward.

Actionable Tip: Schedule regular updates, even outside of required reporting periods. Share your project’s journey, not just the polished results.

4. Tailor Reports to Show Impact

Your grant reports are not just about hitting the right metrics—they're about proving real-world change. Grantors want to see exactly how their funding has been used and the difference it’s making.

Use storytelling to highlight key successes and paint a picture of the real people and communities benefiting from the grant. Did the equipment you bought with the grant help train young adults? Share a story about a specific student whose life changed because of that training.

Actionable Tip: Use visuals—charts, infographics, and images—to make your reports more engaging.

5. Build Long-Term Relationships, Not Just One-Off Grants

One of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make is treating each grant as a one-time transaction. Instead, think of your grantors as long-term partners. Building strong relationships increases your chances of securing future funding and becoming a trusted partner in their mission.

Send thank-you notes, invite them to events, and ask for their input on projects. Engage them in your journey, and make them feel like part of the team. After all, they’ve invested in your cause—they deserve to see the full impact of their contribution.

Actionable Tip: Stay connected even when you're not asking for funding. Share milestones or invite them to see your programs in action.

6. Stay Organized for Future Grants

Winning one grant means you’ll likely apply for more in the future. Staying organized with proposals, reports, and communications will save time and strengthen future applications.

Create a grant calendar that tracks application deadlines, reporting schedules, and key communications with grantors. This ensures that nothing slips through the cracks and that your nonprofit is always prepared for new funding opportunities.

Actionable Tip: Keep a detailed archive of past grant proposals, impact reports, and communications. This will streamline future applications and ensure consistency.

Keeping Grantors Happy Is Key to Long-Term Success

Grant writing doesn’t end when the funding arrives. A successful nonprofit knows that the key to securing more funding is delivering on promises and maintaining strong relationships with grantors. By providing transparent communication, proving tangible results, and making funders feel valued, you’ll not only appease your current grantors but also open doors for future opportunities.

Need Expert Grant Writing and Fundraising Strategy?

DevCom1 specializes in grant writing, reporting, and funder relationship management to help mission-driven organizations secure funding and build long-term partnerships with grantors. Contact us today to strengthen your grant strategy and maximize your funding potential.