Strong applications don’t just win funding – they change lives.
Writing a compelling grant application is both an art and a discipline. The best submissions make it easy for assessors to say yes: they’re clear, convincing and grounded in evidence. But even excellent projects can miss out if the application doesn’t land.
Below, we’ve distilled the core insights from our grants practice into a simple, human and practical guide to strengthening your next submission.
The biggest issues aren’t about the project: they’re about how it’s communicated.
Frequent blockers include:
Put simply: if assessors can’t quickly understand why your project matters, you’re already on the back foot.
Know the priorities, objectives, eligibility limits and how each criterion is weighted. This is your roadmap.
Confirm eligibility, compliance and timelines early. These are preventable reasons to fail.
Show exactly how your project delivers on the grant’s objectives - connect the dots clearly.
Draw on past examples, competitor analysis, information sessions and published data.
Plan ahead, gather third-party inputs early and aim to submit before the final day.
Use real stories that show why the problem matters.
Support your case with data that demonstrates urgency and scope.
Show evidence of your capability, credibility, and track record.
Describe the measurable outcomes and lasting impact your project will create.
When you combine narrative with numbers, you build trust - and help assessors visualise the real-world benefits.
Empact’s Grants Best Practice Workshops give teams the structure, strategy and storytelling skills to compete at their best.
We lift applicant capability so funding delivers greater impact - not just more applications.
We exist to Empower to Act: leaving every organisation, system, and community better than we found it, with the capability, confidence, and connections to create lasting impact.
Let’s work together to make every application count.