If you are reading this post, it’s likely you have come to a very difficult but honest conclusion: your nonprofit organization is not grant ready. While this realization can feel discouraging, it can also be a turning point. Recognizing unreadiness changes the conversation. It shifts your focus from chasing opportunities to strengthening the systems that make funding possible. Many leaders never pause long enough to assess readiness.

“Grant readiness” sounds like another buzzword in an industry full of jargon, or something invented to sell consulting hours. In reality, readiness is far more significant than that. A grant is a contract with obligations, deadlines, and compliance requirements. It is not free money or easy funding. It is a commitment that affects your entire organization, from operations and finance to program delivery.

I made a mistake… for nine years, and it ended up really hurting our business. I didn’t ask for testimonials, ratings, or reviews. At all.  For many years, 100% of our business was referral or repeat business and we were very busy, so I just didn’t prioritize it. We were doing the work, getting results, and I thought that would always be enough.