Not All Grants Are Worth the Trouble: How to Spot a Time-Suck in Disguise

“You can do anything, but not everything.” — David Allen

December is a magical time—lights twinkle, cookies abound, and grant professionals everywhere are... frantically reviewing new RFPs before year-end.

Tis the Season to Say No (Strategically) 🚫

But here’s your gift from us: not every grant is worth the scramble.
In fact, chasing the wrong opportunities could cost you more in time, energy, and credibility than skipping them entirely.

Just because funding exists doesn’t mean it’s meant for you. Let’s talk about how to tell the difference between a real opportunity and a shiny distraction in a Santa suit.

The Red Flags of a Time-Sucking Grant 🚩

Here’s how to spot an “opportunity” that’s likely to be a net loss:

• Doesn’t align with your mission or strategic plan? Hard pass.

• No history of awards to similar organizations? That’s a sign.

• Low award amounts with complex, multi-part applications? Run.

• Unreasonable match requirements or reporting burdens? 🎻 (cue the world’s tiniest violin).

📚 Establish a clear “go/no-go” grant decision matrix to avoid shiny object distractions from your mission.

Know Your Capacity—And Protect It 💪

Let’s be real: your team’s capacity is a precious and finite resource.
Spending weeks on a long-shot proposal with a $5K payout and no infrastructure to support it? That’s not strategy—that’s holiday burnout.

Before diving into a new application, ask:

• Do we have the staff or consultants to do this well?

• Will this contribute to our long-term impact?

• Could that time be better spent on a stronger opportunity or building funder relationships?

Sometimes, saying no is the boldest strategic move you can make.

Look Beyond the Award Amount💸

Some grants look big on the surface but come with enough strings to wrap a Christmas tree. 🧵🎄
Make sure you understand:

• Indirect cost allowances (or lack thereof!)

• Match requirements

• Payment schedule (reimbursement grants = delayed cash flow)

• Reporting + compliance workload and data needs

👀 Careful review before beginning an application can save hours of headaches in proposal development and/or reporting on gifts that bring more coal than joy.

What to Say Yes to Instead 🎯

When should you go all in? Sometimes it is hard to tell but when there are no glaring checks on the naughty list and many solid responses on the nice list, the better the opportunity.

✔ The funder has awarded similar orgs
✔ The funding aligns with your mission and strategic goals
✔ You can meet the eligibility and reporting requirements without contortion
✔ The timeline works for your team
✔ You have a relationship with the funder—or a plan to build one

🎯 Bonus tip: Check to ensure you are operating from strategy, not scarcity.

This December, Wrap Up the Noise ✨

• Strategic “no’s” free up capacity for bigger “yeses”

• Not all grants are worth the ROI

• Protect your team’s bandwidth and mission focus

• Clarity > chaos when it comes to grant strategy

Closing Thought: “Your time is your life. That’s why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time. Or better yet, your boundaries.” — Probably your future self

Bow-Tie the Strategy 🎀

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on what worked, release what didn’t, and refine your grants calendar for the year ahead. If a funding opportunity gives you hives or hijacks your strategic plan, it’s okay to say “not this time.”

And if you’re unsure? That’s what we’re here for.
We help clients develop Comprehensive Funding Strategies that align with mission, capacity, and vision—so you’re not reacting to every RFP that drops into your inbox.

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

📨Email us at hello@carinciconsulting.com to start a conversation.