Communicating Innovation in Grant Applications

The grant world is more competitive than ever. To stand out, grant writers and grant consultants must do more than check boxes—they must lead with strategy, clarity, and innovation.

For months, we've emphasized the importance of:

• Building strong relationships

• Strengthening your grant writing skillset

• Being strategic about which grants you pursue

But there's one more critical piece: innovation. Funders are explicitly asking for innovative proposals. Here's why:

• They want to invest in new ideas backed by proven best practices—a balance that isn’t easy to strike

• They're looking for projects that rise above the noise

• They aim to stretch their grant dollars by supporting bold, collaborative work that sparks change across sectors

  
  

So, how do you approach innovation in grant writing? It often means reimagining what’s already been done and using your expertise to apply it in a new way. Here are a few common concerns and how to work through them:

"We’re a new organization. How can we submit an innovative proposal?"

If you’re new and have strong ideas—great! If your 501(c)(3) is under two years old, consider applying under a fiscal sponsor. Planning to partner? Work with an organization that has a solid track record doing similar work.

"The funder wants to see our history of success. What should we say?"

Frame your past work in a way that aligns directly with the proposed project. Highlight results, but more importantly, highlight relevant results. If the connection isn’t strong, it might not be the right grant to pursue.

"They want proof that our method works. How do we demonstrate that?"

Pull from your existing experience:

• What outcomes have you achieved using your approach?

• What lessons did you learn?

• How will you apply and adapt that approach to your new, innovative idea?

  
  

Be transparent about shortcomings and proactive about how you’ll address them moving forward.

Grant writing is not easy, especially when innovation is on the table. That’s why Think and Ink Grant Consulting® exists: to help you think strategically and ink strong, fundable proposals. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned grant writer, we're here to support your growth, your impact, and your success.

-Shavonn Richardson, MBA, GPC

Need help? Schedule a complimentary consultation today.

About Shavonn V. Richardson, MBA, GPC

Shavonn is the Founder and CEO of Think and Ink Grant Consulting. As a former nonprofit leader and grantmaker, Shavonn has over 20 years of experience delivering practical, real-world advice to nonprofit leaders nationwide.  Shavonn earned the GPC (Grant Professional Certified) credential from the Grant Professionals Certification Institute in 2020 and is a Grant Professionals Association Approved Trainer. Shavonn also serves as President of the Grant Professionals Association.

Think and Ink Grant Consulting®

Think and Ink Grant Consulting® helps large nonprofit organizations with budgets of $3 million or more, institutions of higher education, and municipalities increase their grant funding. Learn more at www.thinkandinkgrants.com.

Get.Grants.Better.®

As the educational subsidiary of Think and Ink Grant Consulting ®, Get.Grants.Better.® provides grant writing training and grant writing templates to grant writers and emerging nonprofit leaders (leading small nonprofits with annual budgets less than $3 million) just starting their grant writing journey.

Our grant writing training is offered virtually and in person for groups, on demand, and via live workshops. All courses include grant writing templates, and stand-alone grant writing templates are also immediately available for download. 

Learn more at https://getgrantsbetter.thinkandinkgrants.com/