While the competition for grant dollars is fierce, there are things you can do to improve your chances. And there are things you can do that will send your proposal directly to the “denied” pile. Grantmakers are inundated with requests, and they are looking for reasons to say “no” to yours. If you want to give your proposal a chance for funding, avoid these common mistakes:

Applying to the Wrong Sources

Read the mission and purpose behind the funding source you are considering approaching carefully and, if that organization’s reason for being is inconsistent with your organization’s needs, give it a pass. Look at where they fund, whom they fund, and the kinds of support they give to make sure that your project is a match. For example, a foundation that funds only animal shelters in Boise, Idaho, would never be a good fit for a literacy program in Chicago. Make sure you and your program are consistent with the philanthropic priorities of the funding source to which you are considering sending a grant request. If you are unsure whether or not they would fund you, give them a call or shoot them an email and ask.

Ignoring the Guidelines

Many funders have guidelines that include how to approach them, what they want to see in a grant request, and deadlines. Not providing the information they require or submitting a proposal late are surefire ways to get your request ignored. Even if what they are asking for seems redundant or irrelevant, make sure you give them exactly what they want to see, when they want to see it. Approximately 1 in 4 grant requests is approved. That means 3 out of 4 are declined. Ignoring the guidelines is the quickest way to lose out on grant dollars, even if your cause is worthy and matches the funding source’s mission perfectly. The first commandment of grant writing is “Follow the directions.”

Being Vague or Confusing

Your grant proposal should be a compelling, organized narrative that shares the necessary information to prove your cause is worthy. You never want a program officer to read your request and think, “so what.” Worse yet, you never want them to read it and say, “what the heck is this person trying to say?” The story you tell should be clear and easy to follow, backed up by an equal mix of facts from credible sources and language that makes the reader “feel” connected and engaged.

Creating Sloppy Budgets

Years ago, I had a foundation program officer tell my grant writing class that the first thing he did when he received a request was go to the budget and make sure the numbers added up. If the math wasn’t right, he didn’t bother reading the proposal. The budget matters. It should be complete, include everything relative to the request, be logical in the way it is laid out, and be correct. When your budget doesn’t work it suggests your project won’t work or, at the very least, your organization doesn’t have its ducks in a row. That’s not the impression you want to give someone from whom you are seeking money.

Using a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

It’s tempting to just recycle proposals, changing only the address and salutation, especially when you are wearing many hats and time for grant-seeking is limited. But that cookie-cutter approach is not as compelling as preparing proposals that are tailored to the priorities, mission, and interests of each individual funding source. Showing a prospect how your organization meets their grantmaking objectives, rather than recycling old material, is an important step in securing funding from them.

Grant writing is not magic. It is a logical process that moves readers through a proposal, step-by-step, in a way that meets their expectations, matches their priorities, and makes a compelling case for your cause. Remember that and you will be on your way to creating a successful grant program for your organization.