Grant application checklist

Use this checklist to organize an identified opportunity before you spend time drafting. It is a starting point, not a substitute for the controlling funder instructions, organizational policy, or accountable human review.

Opportunity and fit

• Funder, program, and application URL are identified.
• Current deadline, time zone, submission method, and any notice-of-intent date are confirmed.
• Eligibility, geography, program restrictions, and required match or other support are checked.
• The organization has named an accountable decision-maker and final submitter.

Program and evidence

• The proposed activity is an existing approved program or its new-design status is explicitly scoped.
• Population, place, timing, activities, outputs, and outcome targets are specific.
• Each important claim has a source, internal owner, or clear qualification.
• Measurement method, cadence, and limitations are stated without promising results that do not exist.

Budget and attachments

• The budget total reconciles to the narrative and workplan.
• Request amount, committed support, and planned but unsecured support are labeled separately.
• Cost basis, time period, and any match or indirect-cost treatment are documented.
• Required attachments have owners, current versions, and enough lead time for approval.

Final review

• The narrative answers each scored criterion in the funder’s order or an easy-to-follow crosswalk.
• Names, dates, totals, and organizational facts match across every file.
• The client has approved the facts and final package.
• The client—not an outside writing support provider—retains submission authority.

For a fictional demonstration of these checks, see the Northside Arts Workshop grant review example. For a defined review, letter of inquiry, or short foundation application, see Wellridge grant-writing services.

This checklist is part of the Wellridge Group resource library. Adapt it to the controlling instructions and accountable human review.