The 90-Day Grant Readiness Sprint: What to Fix Before Applying

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ENFA
ENFA

Most funding deadlines don’t give you time to get your act together. If you wait until the call drops to start preparing, you’re already behind.

At ENFA, we believe in the power of grant readiness—a proactive approach to make your organization fundable before the pressure kicks in. This 90-day sprint gives you a structured roadmap to get your legal, financial, strategic, and narrative tools in place—so when the right call appears, you’re ready to hit "submit" with confidence.

Month 1: Lay the Legal and Financial Foundations

You can’t build a strong proposal on shaky paperwork.

Your tasks:

  • Update your registration documents: Are they current and translated (if applying internationally)?
  • Organize your financials: Ensure your latest audited statements or management accounts are available and formatted.
  • Clarify your legal status: Many calls are strict on eligibility—NGO, SME, research institute, etc.
  • Check your VAT status and ability to receive international funding.
  • Create a financial “one-pager” that outlines core figures: turnover, main revenue sources, key cost centers.

Pro tip: Have a professional CV and staff salary table ready—EU applications often request them unexpectedly.

Month 2: Sharpen Your Strategic Story

Funders don’t just buy ideas—they invest in credible roadmaps.

Your tasks:

  • Refine your Theory of Change or Logic Model: Make sure your problem, intervention, and outcomes are tightly aligned.
  • Write (or update) your standard concept note: A 1–2 page summary of your flagship project, adaptable across calls.
  • Clarify your KPIs and outcomes: Funders want numbers. Be ready with SMART impact indicators.
  • Gather letters of support: Especially from municipalities, strategic partners, or previous funders.

Bonus tip: Interview past beneficiaries or partners. Add real quotes or stats to your storytelling arsenal.

Month 3: Build Your Operational Toolkit

You need the tools of execution to prove you’re fundable.

Your tasks:

  • Prepare a staff capacity map: Who can do what during the grant? Who’ll manage, implement, monitor?
  • Draft a simple Gantt chart of your project timeline.
  • Set up templates for budget narratives, risk assessments, and evaluation plans.
  • Know your indirect cost rate and internal budgeting process—most EU grants ask.

Optional but powerful:

  • Register on EU funding portals (e.g., EU Login, PIC Number).
  • Build a pitch deck or visual one-pager for partners or donors.

Your Readiness Scorecard:

By day 90, you should be able to answer:
- Do we have the legal right to apply?
- Are our financials in order and recent?
- Do we have a clear, fundable idea?
- Are our results measurable and meaningful?
- Can we execute what we promise?

Want to Do This Faster, Smarter, and With Support?

ENFA members get a full Grant Readiness Checklist, editable templates, and expert-led strategy sessions that save time and increase your success rate.

👉 Join ENFA and never miss a funding opportunity because you weren’t ready.