March 31, 2026
The Impact Issue #106: Chasing Almost Fit Grants
Learn how to stop wasting time with almost-fit grants in this week’s edition.
Hi there!
There’s always that one grant that we want so badly to fit, and it just doesn’t.
But, instead of admitting defeat, we’re willing to waste our limited resources going after it, taking our chances on the what-if rather than finding a better fit.
This week’s edition is all about the downfalls of chasing almost-fits - and what you can do differently to find your best fit instead. We also share resources to keep you organized, networking events, educational sessions, grant opportunities, and so much more.
So get comfortable, and welcome to The Impact.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Chasing Almost Fit Grants
We’ve all convinced ourselves that we can make a grant work before.
We fall into the trap of “if we just.” If we just tweak our phrasing, adjust the outcomes slightly, or add new elements, we can make it work.
Before you know it, you’ve spent hours trying to reverse engineer your fit - more time than it would have taken to find a good-fit grant to begin with.
Funders can tell when you’re stretching the truth to fit their criteria - and it’s not a good look. By doing so, you can damage your reputation by coming off as inauthentic and not transparent.
💡 Pointer: Create a 3-Question Test to Check Grant Fit
Time is money, so you have to be judicious about only applying to grants you have the best shot of winning.
Before you even add the grant to your roadmap, you need to assess fit. You can do this by answering three simple questions. If the answer isn’t yes, then it’s time to move on and focus your efforts elsewhere.
Here are three questions to pressure test fit.
- Does our core mission align with the funder’s priorities? You shouldn’t have to do verbal gymnastics to make the connection of why you should receive funding.
- Do they regularly fund organizations like ours? Check their past grantees to see if they look like you. Some funders have a strong preference for the types of organizations they like to fund, and Instrumentl makes it easy to spot these trends with our reverse search strategy.
- Does the grant support what we actually need to do the work? Some grants have restrictions on what their funds can and cannot be used for. Don’t bet on the fact that you can find something else to fund the gap if it doesn’t actually meet your needs.
The right grant strategy isn’t about applying for everything and hoping something will stick. It’s about quality - not quantity - and chasing almost fit grants won’t help you get there.
🤓 Explore more ways to evaluate funders - and grants - for fit!
The Latest Numbers
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made changes to charitable giving rules in the United States. In fact, it may impact how many donors give for many years to come.
Donor Perfect put together a guide that helps highlight the biggest changes and provides tips for nonprofits to navigate them.
- Small donors get a new tax break. Anyone who gives can deduct cash donations from their taxes, even if they don’t itemize, up to $1,000 for individuals or $2,000 for couples.
- There’s a decrease in tax savings for major donors. Tax savings for every dollar donated dropped two cents, from 37 cents to 35 cents in 2025.
- Corporate giving has to donate at least 1% of its taxable income before it can be deductible. There was no previous minimum, which may shift how some companies give.
Expert Perspectives
🏆 The Instrumentl Team on Assessing Internal Capacity
Finding the right fit grant is only a small piece of the larger grant management puzzle. You also have to have the capacity to pursue the grant.
The Instrumentl team knows it can be tempting to apply for every opportunity you qualify for; however, you’ll end up overextending yourself and not putting your best foot forward in any opportunity if you do that.
Here’s their expert advice:
- Pause before saying yes. New opportunities are exciting, but with them comes a lot of work. Don’t just ask if the opportunity fits your mission; also consider if it fits your workload.
- Review your internal support. Make sure that you have the right team in place to support the grant - and that they have the right skills and certifications to meet the grant requirement. You don’t want to dash to upskill your team if you land the grant.
- Be strategic about timing. You don’t have to say no - but you do have to say not right now. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is wait to give yourself the best shot at winning a grant. The last thing you want to do is put a half-hearted attempt out there. It can cause more damage than good.
💫 Keep refining your internal capacity evaluation - and more - in the full webinar!
Opportunities Spotlight
Zegar Family Foundation Grant
Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on improving the community through sustainability, social justice, and more
Next Deadline: Rolling (Letter of Inquiry)
Grant Amount: $125,000 (Median)
The Details:
The Zegar Family Foundation Grant helps empower nonprofits to make a meaningful, tangible impact in the world. This invite-only opportunity has two key focus areas: environment and sustainability, and justice and human rights. However, they are open to new ideas in additional areas, including science and medicine, human services, economic opportunity, arts, education, and more.
Cowles Charitable Trust Grant
Who It’s For: Nonprofits that promote education, social justice, health, and the arts
Next Deadline: June 1, 2026
Grant Amount: Up to $10,000
The Details:
The Cowles Charitable Trust Grant helps fund projects that support the arts, education, advancement of ethical journalism, and medical and climate research. While priority is given to nonprofits in New York and Florida, all areas are eligible to apply.
🔍 Check out thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
📅 Conference: Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference
July 29-31, 2026 | National Harbor, Maryland
The 21st annual Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference’s theme is “Stronger than the Moment: Hope. Strength. Perseverance.” The sessions will focus on how fundraising, marketing, and technology work together to drive success. Attendees will learn actionable strategies through informational speakers, interactive breakout sessions, and engaging networking opportunities.
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Best Grant Writing Courses
Looking to level up your grant writing education? Explore one of our recommended courses to help improve your skills, learn new tricks, and become a stronger grant writer in a few short weeks.
📼 Video: How to Find Private Grant Opportunities
Diversifying your funding stream is essential to a healthy grant pipeline. This quick tutorial provides a crash course in finding private grant opportunities.
🎙️ Podcast: Embracing Your Journey with Margit Brazda Poirier
Grant expert Margit Brazda Poirier joins the Nonprofit Nerd podcast to share more about her learnings throughout her career. She dives into the power of asking for help, how AI can help you personally and professionally, and giving yourself permission to pause.
Stop Chasing the What-Ifs
Stop trying to put a square peg in a round hole when it comes to your grant search. There are not enough hours in the day to chase almost-fit grants when there are plenty of opportunities that fit without forcing.
That’s where Instrumentl can help.
- Narrow opportunities based on your needs, not the other way around. Set up your projects in the system, and the best-fit grants will come to you.
- Discover funder insights. Review Form 990s to learn who funders have previously given to. If they look like you, you may have a better shot of winning the grant.
🎉 Sign up today for a free 14-day trial!
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