5 Simple Ways to Find Grants That Actually Fit Your Mission

If you’ve ever felt like grant writing is a guessing game, you’re not alone. One of the biggest mistakes nonprofits make is chasing any grant instead of the right grants. The result? Hours of work with little to show for it.

The truth is: finding the right funder is half the battle. A well-matched opportunity will give your proposal a fighting chance before you even start writing.

Here are five simple ways to identify grants that actually fit your mission — and avoid wasting time on poor matches.

Match the Funder’s Mission to Your Own

Before anything else, read the funder’s mission statement. If your core programs don’t clearly align with their focus, it’s not a good fit.

For example, if you run youth mentoring programs, but the funder focuses on environmental conservation, it’s better to move on.

👉 Quick Check: Can you explain in one sentence how your mission overlaps with theirs? If not, it’s not worth pursuing.

Check Eligibility Requirements

Most funders set clear parameters about who they fund. Pay close attention to:

• Geography (Do they fund in your state, county, or city?)

• Organization type (Nonprofits, schools, faith-based groups, etc.)

• Size and scope (Do they fund grassroots groups, or only large institutions?)

Many nonprofits overlook these details and end up disqualified before review.

Review Past Grantees

One of the easiest ways to judge fit is to see who they’ve already funded. Most foundations list past recipients in their annual reports or on their websites.

Ask yourself:

• Do these organizations look similar to yours?

• Are they addressing similar needs or populations?

• Is the average award size realistic for your budget?

If your peers are receiving grants, you’re likely in the right place.

Consider Award Size

It may be tempting to go after a large-dollar grant, but if your organization has never managed more than $50,000 in funding, applying for a $500,000 award could raise red flags.

On the flip side, applying for a $2,000 grant when your project needs $100,000 isn’t strategic either.

👉 Aim for opportunities that fit your current capacity and project scale.

Evaluate Reporting and Capacity

Every grant comes with strings — usually reporting and tracking requirements. Before you apply, ask:

• Do we have the staff or systems to meet reporting expectations?

• Can we deliver the outcomes the funder requires?

• Will the time and effort of managing this grant outweigh the award amount?

If the reporting burden is too heavy, the grant may cost more than it’s worth.

The Bottom Line

Winning grants isn’t about volume — it’s about alignment. The more carefully you screen opportunities, the higher your success rate (and the less time you’ll waste on dead ends).

At Perennial Planning & Consulting, I help organizations like yours identify and pursue the right funding opportunities — so your time and energy go toward the proposals most likely to succeed.

💡 Want a shortcut? Download my free Grant Prospecting Starter Guide to learn how to quickly screen and track the best-fit opportunities for your mission.