Most common reasons for failure of funding include:
- The grantseeker does not systematically search out potential funders from among public, foundation, corporate, and other funding sources
- The grantseeker fails to pursue obvious available funds (e.g. donations, fee for service, loans.)
- The grantseeker fails to talk with the funder to find out why the request was rejected
- The grantseeker is rejected and gives up
- The grantseeker stops seeking other grants/funds once they are funded
- Grantseekers do not cultivate personal contacts with funders
- Grantseekers do not get on Request for Proposal (RFP) or bid lists, receive funder newsletters or network effectively
- Grantseekers do not thoroughly do the research on each potential funder to determine the funder’s real interests, geographic preferences, and dollar amounts
- Grantseekers fail to build a team which would make them more competitive
- Grantseekers fail to carefully review and meticulously follow funder instructions, policies, and guidelines
- The proposal hasn’t adequately expressed the severity of the need
- Proposals are boiler plated and shot gunned instead of tailored for each funder
- Proposals are not consistent from section to section
- Proposals do not reflect what the grantseeker know