Get Ready for 2026: How to Prepare Your Grant Strategy Now (Because 2025 Changed Everything)

If you’ve been applying for grants the same way for years and wondering why it’s getting tougher, you’re right. The grant-funding environment shifted in 2025, and it’s time to recalibrate for 2026.

This isn’t about a quick tweak, it’s about future-proofing your strategy so your organization is ready to respond and win.

Here’s what changed — and what you should be doing right now.

What Changed in 2025

Here are five major shifts you need to know:

1. Funders expect measurable impact and strong data Funders increasingly demand proposals that don’t just promise good intentions but show real evidence: baseline data, clear outcomes, and the ability to measure success.

   • Data-driven storytelling is now a must.

   • Transparent reporting and accountability have become stronger expectations.

     
     

2. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) + Innovation matter more Funders are looking for organizations that embed DEI practices and show that programs are inclusive and culturally competent. At the same time, leveraging technology, innovation and efficient models is gaining more weight.

   
   

3. Sustainability and long-term thinking over “one-off” grants It’s no longer enough to “get the money and deliver the project.” Funders want to see how the work will be sustained after the grant period ends. This means showing your organization’s capacity, how you’ll manage future funding, and how you’ll pivot if conditions change.
   

4. Collaboration, partnerships, and cross-sector alignment Grants that involve multiple organizations, or where nonprofits partner with businesses, government or other nonprofits, are viewed more favorably. This trend reflects funders’ recognition that complex social problems often require multi-actor solutions.
   

5. Funding sources and behavior are shifting

   • Some government/federal grants are becoming less predictable or more competitive.

   • The rise of donor-advised funds (DAFs) and non-traditional philanthropic vehicles means building relationships is more important.

   • Technology and digital giving are accelerating — organizations that adopt tools and show digital literacy have an edge.

     
     

What This Means for You (and What You Should Do Now)

Because of those shifts, here’s your actionable checklist to build a strong foundation for 2026:

Step 1: Audit Your Grant Readiness

• Review your current grant strategy: Which funders have you applied to? What were the wins/losses and why?

• Map your programs: Which are core, which are pilot/new, which need scaling? Prioritize your highest-impact work.

• Evaluate your data systems: Do you have reliable baseline data, outcomes tracking, dashboards or logical frameworks? If not, start building.

• Check your DEI practices: Who is on your leadership team? How are underserved communities represented in program design and governance? Funders care.

• Sustainability check: For each major grant you’ll pursue, ask: How will this continue after funding ends? What’s our plan?

Step 2: Build Relationships & Prospect Smartly

• Use tools and databases to identify funders whose priorities align with your mission — not just who is giving “lots of money.”

• Deep-dive into each funder: What have they funded recently? What language do they use? What are their strategic goals? Align your narrative to that.

• Seek partnerships: Can you collaborate with another nonprofit, a business or a public entity to strengthen your proposal and show broader impact?

• Cultivate DAFs and newer philanthropic vehicles: Build networks with advisors, community foundations, donor-advised fund managers.

Step 3: Update Your Narrative & Proposal Templates

• Revise your “Case for Support” to reflect 2026 readiness: Include impact stories + data.

• In your proposals, balance narrative (story) + numbers (data) — funders want both.

• Emphasize how you’ve built technology, innovation, digital capacity into your operations or programs.

• Show your organizational strength: governance, staff, board, operations, sustainability plan.

• Build a sustainability section: how you’ll continue, what other revenue streams you will access, how you will manage risk.

Step 4: Set Up Systems & Tools

• Invest or upgrade your grant-management system: deadlines, tasks, reporting, budget tracking. These tools position you to scale.

• Develop standard templates for budgets, logic models, outcome metrics — so your team is ready for quick turnarounds.

• Create an “impact dashboard” or tracking tool for your organization that you can reference in proposals (and show to funders).

• Build a calendar for 2026 opportunities now: major RFAs/NOFOs, foundation cycles, community foundations, corporate giving deadlines.

Step 5: Plan for 2026 Opportunities

• Identify "big bets": What are the major grants (foundation, corporate, government) you’ll target in 2026?

• Map smaller grants to build momentum & success stories in advance.

• Consider applying for multi-year grants: Funders are increasingly offering multi-year commitments under trust-based philanthropy models.

• Be ready to pivot: Have reserve funds or contingency plans—economic and funding shifts still create uncertainty.

Why This Pre-Work Pays Off

By starting now you’ll:

• Be ahead of the rush: Many nonprofits will wait until early 2026 to start — you’ll already have your systems, data and narrative ready.

• Demonstrate that you’re a “fundable” organization: Not just a project, but an organization that can sustain, measure, and scale.

• Be prepared for grant reviews with stronger documentation — making you more competitive.

• Build momentum: Success breeds success. A few wins early in 2026 can open doors to bigger grants.

Call to Action: Let’s Make 2026 the Year You Win

If you’re ready to get serious about submitting wins in 2026 — we can help:

• Let’s schedule a “Readiness & Strategy” call where we walk through your audit together, identify gaps and build your action plan. Click here to find a date and time that work for your schedule.

• We’ll help you build or refine your case for support, align your narrative with funder priorities, upgrade your tools, and map out your 2026 grant calendar.

Reach out today so you’re not reinventing in January — you’re executing.

Your mission matters—let’s make your funding match it.