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Stormy to Calm: Thoughts on Navigating the Federal Grant-Writing Waters After NLFGT

Grant Professionals Association

Before taking GPAs Next Level Federal Grants Training (NLFGT) course, my approach to federal grants could best be described as the sink or swim method. Even locating the expectations for the proposal narrative within the sea of eligibility criteria and requirements felt overwhelming.

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Most Common Grant Proposal Errors (and How to Fix Them)

Grant Writing Made Easy

Define SMART outcomes: Swap broad objectives for measurable goals like, “Train 25 youth by Q4, with 80% finding employment within six months.” Pro Tip: Use a separate budget narrative page to explain your numbers. Want more support, templates, and training to help you avoid these errors from the start?

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Grant Budgets for Nonprofits: Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid

Grant Writing Made Easy

When your budget and narrative reinforce each other, you present a cohesive, trustworthy plan funders can confidently invest in. Mistake: Skipping the Budget Narrative or Justification Even if a grant application doesn’t require a budget narrative , skipping it can be a missed opportunity.

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Best practices for a project budget in uncertain times 

Candid

However, it can be a good idea to: a) add more potential funding sources than you’ve needed in the past; and b) explain (using a budget narrative ) your logic for including additional funding sources or program changes. In essence, you include a small contingency plan in the budget. How could the budget reflect this change?

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Grant Writer Cost in 2025: What You Actually Need to Pay [Expert Guide]

Allied Grant Writers

Budget creation and narratives Budget development is a vital service from professional grant writers. They create detailed financial plans and write convincing budget narratives to explain each cost. Your organization must also provide office space, strong technology, and ongoing training.

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Developing a nonprofit budget: The basics and best practices

Candid

The good news is that budgets arent as complicated as most people fear, she writes. The article also points you to additional Candid resources on developing a nonprofit budget, including our free trainings: What do funders look for in grant proposal budgets? Building a nonprofit budget: 4 steps to get started.

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Is AI Coming for Your Grant Writing Job?

Grant Writing Made Easy

We even provide ongoing training and coaching so everyone on your team can easily utilize it. It’s coming for the late nights spent searching your inbox for last year’s budget narrative. And if you don’t have time to build that system from scratch, our Grant Launch service sets it up for you. No tech background required.