Have You Read the Latest Executive Order? Why Your Nonprofit Needs a Grant Writer Now More Than Ever

You might have come across the recent Executive Order aimed at Enhancing Oversight of Federal Grant Distribution, along with several other executive initiatives. Numerous changes are underway. Given this situation, it’s crucial not to let go of your grant writer. Why is that? Because now, their expertise is more essential than ever. Here’s the reasoning:

A.I. is Not Your Replacement Grant Writer

Artificial intelligence is capable of performing numerous tasks. As an enthusiast of A.I. myself, I recognize its potential; however, the expertise and strategic thinking required for grant writing cannot be duplicated by A.I.

Contrary to common misconceptions, crafting a grant proposal involves more than merely assembling words on a page. A significant amount of thought and strategy is essential not only for writing but also for securing funding for your proposal. Much of this process relies on human reasoning and decision-making.

While A.I. can be beneficial for generating initial ideas, the core substance of the final proposal will stem from human intellect.

To explore further, certain words frequently appear in a rubric: "comprehensively describe," "thoroughly address," "clearly explain," or similar expressions. If a proposal fails to "comprehensively," "thoroughly," or "clearly" fulfill its intended purpose, it won't earn full marks, risking the proposal not being selected. Such terms distinguish an A.I.-generated proposal from a competitive one that fully satisfies a funder's criteria. A.I. lacks the capacity to provide the level of detail, in-depth discussion, and comprehensive analysis that comes from hands-on experience, adaptability to challenges, and the collective human insight necessary to achieve a score high enough for an award.

Moreover, employing A.I. to draft a grant application could lead to your submission being rejected. I've participated in numerous webinars where funders have clearly cautioned against utilizing A.I. for proposal writing due to this specific concern.

A Two-Week Turnaround on a Government Grant Isn't For the Faint of Heart

With just a fortnight remaining to submit a federal grant application, your organization requires experienced professionals who can produce a top-notch deliverable swiftly. This is not the moment to brainstorm a program from the ground up. Nor is it the time to navigate grants.gov or register on grants.gov for the first time.

I saw an organization try to handle it on their own. Their application was rejected because of simple mistakes. You can't know what you don't know. Regrettably, even after dedicating over 125 hours to completing the proposal and uploading documents, it wasn't funded due to entirely avoidable issues.

You've Chosen to Pause Your Involvement with Federal Grants

This is a genuine decision faced by many, differing across organizations. Are you aware that some organizations continue to apply for and secure federal grant funding? Don't let the difficulties of our current situation discourage you. If you're taking a pause, there are other tasks that require your attention right now.

Now is the perfect moment to focus on two key areas: program design/redesign and grant writing training. Additionally, if you're interested in grant writing training, we are offering a scholarship on our website. These are two activities that are challenging to tackle when you're busy submitting grant applications.

Once you've crafted your programming, utilize resources such as Instrumentl to refresh your grant research, making sure it matches your revised programming. If Instrumentl is new to you, benefit from my special three-week trial link here.

FOA's Written For the Everyday Person Can Help, But Not Really

I support FOAs (funding opportunity announcements) written in plain language. It increases access for everyone to be able to read and understand a FOA. However, despite the thought that simple FOA language will make writing grants easier, it's not about the language of the FOA. It's about using a time-proven grant writing strategy to maximize your points and win.

Grant strategy is the name of the game and the very reason why I started Think and INk Grant Consulting® in 2016. Please read about my frustrations in the form of my Founder's story here.

In conclusion, you may think it's OK to fire your grant writer, but guess what? Your competitor will probably still hire a grant writer. They want to make their application strong and win a grant. Maintain your competitive advantage, especially in this market where more organizations are competing for federal funding than ever before.