From Resolution Overload to Real Results: Trim the Grant Strategy Fat in 2026

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” — Abraham Lincoln (probably)

Ah, January. The time of year when gyms are packed, planners are pristine, and your inbox is overflowing with good intentions. We love a fresh start—but let’s be honest: most New Year’s resolutions flame out by February (only 9% of people actually keep them).

New Year, Same Grant Chaos? Let’s Change That. 🎉

When it comes to grants strategy, the same holds true. Big, vague plans like “apply for more grants” or “diversify funding” sound great—until reality kicks in. Let’s skip the burnout and get strategic instead. Here’s how to cut the fluff and fund what matters in 2026.

1. Ditch the Vanity Metrics🥇

Chasing 30+ grants a year might look impressive on paper—but if only a few align with your mission or capacity? You’re on the grants hamster wheel. 🐹

Instead, track what counts:

• Funder retention (are they coming back year after year?)

• Submission competitiveness (strong proposals with positive feedback)

• Win rates (not just submissions)

• Funding ROI (amount awarded vs. effort invested)

📊 Use a tool to monitor meaningful metrics that drive impact—not ego.

2. Stop Hoarding Templates That Don’t Serve You 🧹

If your shared drive looks like a graveyard of half-baked proposals and random attachments named “FINAL_final_v3_EDITED.docx”… it’s time for a cleanup.

Create a living grants library:

• Keep only strong, successful past proposals

• Organize by topic (projects, org capacity, partners, etc.)

• Annotate with reviewer feedback (gold!)

🗂️ Pro Tip: Build a folder of reusable boilerplate and update quarterly.

3. Streamline with a Strategic Focus 🧭

Instead of applying for every opportunity under the sun, prioritize grants that align with your strategic goals. That means:

• Mission match

• Realistic requirements

• Sufficient funding to justify the time

🚦Check out our December blog [hyperlink the “December blog”] for more on assessing go/no-go before investing precious resources.

4. Build a Grants Calendar That Doesn’t Break You ⏱️

If you have not already, January is a good time to sketch out a grants calendar for the year.

• Map out deadlines by month

• Assign lead time for writing + approvals

• Note reporting deadlines to avoid pileups

📌 Be warned: overloading Q1 and ignoring Q4 can be a recipe for failure.

5. Automate the Boring Stuff 🤖

Stop wasting human energy on tasks robots can do. Consider automation tools like:

• Zapier to trigger alerts for new grant postings.

• Asana or Trello to manage tasks and timelines

• Grammarly to keep your proposals sharp (and typo-free)

Work smarter—not just harder.

6. Partner Like a Pro (Hint: You're Not Alone) 👯‍♀️

2026 is not the year to go it alone. Collaborate with:

• Program staff with data and stories (invaluable on the ground expertise)

• Finance team for real budgets (not “guesstimates”)

• Aligned organizations and community stakeholders (maximize resources and leverage strengths)

• Funder-savvy grant strategists (hi! 👋)

Working with a grants consultant helps trim trial-and-error, clarify strategy, and 10X your results. Book a strategy call to learn how.

7. Set Quarterly Mini-Goals (Not Yearlong Fantasies) 🎯

Resolutions fail because they’re too big, too vague, and too far away. Instead:

• Break goals into quarters

• Tie them to clear deliverables (like 3 funder LOIs or 2 resubmissions)

• Reward yourself (yes, treats count 🎂)

Want an accountability buddy? Add a monthly check-in with your team—or your grant consultant.

8. 🪞Reflect Before You Reset

Before setting new goals, take stock:

• What worked last year?

• What drained your energy?

• What brought in funding—and what didn’t?

Because you don’t need a new you. You just need a smarter grants plan.

Final Word: Progress > Perfection 🥊

This year, skip the crash-diet grant goals and build something sustainable. Whether it’s launching your first strategy, refining your grants calendar, or hiring support—it’s about consistent action, not a January frenzy.

💼 Let’s get it done, together.

Interestingly the success rate dramatically increases with a coach or accountability partner.

📬 Reach out anytime: hello@carinciconsulting.com

📅 Book a free strategy call: https://www.carinciconsulting.com/schedule.