02 Dec Did You Know: The Importance of Researching Funders Before Applying by Roxanne Jensen, Ed.S., GPC

Several years ago, I worked with a nonprofit client who had received funding from a particular foundation many times in the past. The client felt confident putting the funder on their own grant calendar for the upcoming year, allowing me to focus my time on another funding priority because they were sure that the foundation would continue its support. Despite my recommendation, the client did not want to approve any research time for current funders. However, when the rejection letter came, they were surprised. After reviewing the foundation’s recent priorities, it became clear that their focus had shifted, and the grant proposal they submitted no longer aligned with their new direction. That experience was a costly lesson for the client, reinforcing how critical it is to research every funder, even returning ones, before applying. This extra step can make the difference between receiving funding and being rejected.