Six Essential Ingredients for Successful Grant Funding in 2026
For NFPs, community groups, and businesses that rely on grants - this one’s for you.
Let’s be honest: if you’re still flying by the seat of your pants when it comes to grants in 2026, it’s time to slow down, breathe, and rethink your approach. Because the most successful organisations aren’t running on adrenaline and duct-taped applications, instead they’re calm, strategic, and grant ready.
Here are six essential ingredients I see time and time again when working with purpose-driven businesses that consistently win grants and use them well.
And no, it’s not “just another plan” (but if you don’t have a growth plan… yep, you need one of those too).
1. Don’t panic. Seriously.
Having a calm nervous system is the underrated secret weapon when it comes to grants. When you operate from stress and chaos, everything feels urgent. That’s when rushed applications get submitted, key opportunities are missed, and team tension hits boiling point.
A calm grant approach starts with planning ahead, having solid project ideas in the pipeline, and understanding the grant landscape - not scrambling when something pops up.
2. Trust your team.
One of the biggest mindset shifts we need in the grant space is moving from “I have to do it all myself” to “we’ve got this, together.” You can’t expect one person to carry the entire funding load - especially if they don’t have the time, energy, or interest.
Successful organisations have empowered teams with clear roles, good communication, and shared ownership of grant success. Trust your people, upskill where needed, and build a grants culture that’s proactive and collaborative.
3. Design projects that matter.
You can’t fake meaningful impact. Strong grant applications are built around real projects with real outcomes. Think: tangible, community-driven, purpose-aligned, and backed by evidence.
Funders want to see more than buzzwords - they want to see that your work is genuinely improving lives, solving problems, and creating ripple effects.
No project yet? Start with a wishlist.
Brainstorm. Engage your community.
The magic is in the planning.
4. Think beyond the next board report.
Short-term wins are fine, but they won’t build long-term success. If you’re only chasing grants to hit this month’s budget or impress the board, you’re missing the point.
It’s time for honest conversations about where your organisation is headed. Are you solving the root problems? Are you growing sustainably? Are you building capability or just ticking boxes? Long-term thinkers win more grants, because their projects are part of a bigger vision.
5. Invest in the right people (and give them the time!).
Please stop asking someone who hates writing to be your grants lead. And please stop assigning grant applications to already-exhausted team members as a side task.
Great grants work needs skill, experience, and time. That might mean training staff, hiring a grants specialist or bringing in external support (someone like Liz from The Grants Club!). It also means being realistic about workloads and capacity. If you’re not resourced properly, it’s going to show in your results.
6. Educate your board or committee.
An unqualified board can be a hidden roadblock to grant success. If your committee doesn’t understand how grants work - how they’re tied to strategy, compliance, finances, and risk, they can’t make good decisions about them. They let their personal views and risk appetite take over.
Train your board. Help them understand why grant funding matters, what it takes to apply, and how they can best support the process. If they don’t care about your mission, or don’t have the skills to support your funding goals… it might be time for a refresh.
So how do you bring this all together?
You move from panic to alignment by building strong leadership and strategy across your organisation. Here’s some ideas for you and your team:
CEO coaching – for leadership clarity, calm communication, and understanding your numbers
Team strategy and development – to share the vision and the workload
Strategic grants work – to build your wishlist, develop impactful projects, and define your purpose
Organisational structure review – to align roles, skills, and realistic expectations
Board training – to ensure the right people are sitting at the table
2026 is the year to shift from reactive to strategic. No more frazzled nerves and last-minute applications. No more grants written by people who resent doing it. No more disconnected boards or “shiny” reports that say a lot but mean very little.
Let’s get real. Let’s get aligned. And let’s make your funding future feel less chaotic, and a whole lot more possible in 2026.
Want support with strategy, coaching or grant development this year?