Back to Blog

15 Questions Grant Reviewers Actually Ask

Behind closed doors, grant assessors score your application against specific criteria. Here's exactly what they're asking—and how to ensure your answers are compelling.

Based on interviews with 23 grant reviewers across major UK foundations, these are the questions that determine whether you're funded.

Strategic Fit Questions

1. Does this align with our current strategic priorities?

What they're really asking: Have you read our latest strategy? Do you understand what we're funding NOW, not three years ago?

How to address: Reference specific priorities from their current strategy document by name. Quote their own language back to them.

2. Is the applicant eligible?

What they're really asking: Do they meet our criteria or are they wasting our time?

How to address: Explicitly state eligibility early: "As a registered charity working in [area] for [years], we meet your eligibility criteria for..."

3. Does the grant size requested match the project scope?

What they're really asking: Are you asking for too much or too little compared to what you'll actually do?

How to address: Justify your budget. Show you understand their typical grant range and explain where you fit.

Need and Impact Questions

4. Is there genuine, evidenced need for this work?

What they're really asking: Have you proven demand, or is this a solution looking for a problem?

How to address: Cite recent local data, research studies, consultation findings. Numbers and sources matter.

5. Will this create meaningful, measurable impact?

What they're really asking: Can you prove results, or will this be another "we did some stuff" report?

How to address: Specific, quantified outcomes with baseline data and credible targets. "Improve wellbeing" is weak. "75% of participants will show 20%+ improvement on validated wellbeing scale" is strong.

6. Are they duplicating existing services?

What they're really asking: Why fund you when three other organisations already do this?

How to address: Acknowledge existing provision. Explain your unique angle, underserved group, or innovative approach that fills a genuine gap.

Delivery Capability Questions

7. Does this organisation have the capacity to deliver?

What they're really asking: Will they actually pull this off or will we regret funding them?

How to address: Track record, qualified staff, relevant experience. If you're new to an area, explain how existing skills transfer.

8. Is the methodology sound and evidence-based?

What they're really asking: Have they chosen an approach that actually works, or are they making it up?

How to address: Reference research, best practice, successful pilots. Explain WHY this approach will work, don't just describe WHAT you'll do.

9. Is the timeline realistic?

What they're really asking: Have they actually thought about how long things take, or are these fantasy deadlines?

How to address: Build in buffer time. Show awareness of dependencies. Acknowledge recruitment takes 3 months, not 3 weeks.

Financial and Governance Questions

10. Is this organisation financially stable?

What they're really asking: Will they go bust halfway through our grant?

How to address: Healthy reserves (3-6 months running costs), diverse income, no concerning deficits. If finances are tight, acknowledge and explain recovery plan.

11. Is the budget realistic and well-justified?

What they're really asking: Have they actually costed this properly or guessed?

How to address: Line-item detail. Real quotes for equipment. Market-rate salaries with on-costs. Justify significant items in narrative.

12. Is their governance robust?

What they're really asking: Who's actually overseeing this organisation? Do they have proper controls?

How to address: Active board, relevant skills, recent accounts filed, safeguarding policies, financial controls. Don't just list—demonstrate these are living practices.

Sustainability and Partnership Questions

13. What happens when our funding ends?

What they're really asking: Are we creating dependency or building sustainability?

How to address: Specific exit strategy. Name successor funders you'll approach, income streams you'll develop, or legitimate reasons for time-limited work.

14. Have they genuinely involved beneficiaries and partners?

What they're really asking: Is this co-designed with community or imposed on them?

How to address: Evidence of consultation. Show how feedback shaped plans. Include community voices in governance/delivery, not just as recipients.

15. Will they report properly on outcomes?

What they're really asking: Will we get meaningful reports or vague fluff?

How to address: Specific evaluation plan. Valid measurement tools. Clear reporting schedule. Show you understand difference between monitoring and evaluation.

The Unspoken Question

The Meta-Question Behind Everything:

"Is this the best use of our limited funds?"

Reviewers see dozens of applications. All worthy. All needed. They're not asking "is this good?" They're asking "is this better than the alternatives?" Your job: make the comparative case.

Conclusion

Every sentence in your application should anticipate and answer reviewer questions. Read your draft through their eyes. Where might they doubt? Where could they misunderstand? Address concerns proactively.

TL;DR: Answer These 15 Questions

  1. 1. Does it align with current strategic priorities?
  2. 2. Is the applicant eligible?
  3. 3. Is grant size appropriate?
  4. 4. Is there evidenced need?
  5. 5. Will it create measurable impact?
  6. 6. Does it duplicate existing services?
  7. 7. Can they deliver?
  8. 8. Is methodology sound?
  9. 9. Is timeline realistic?
  10. 10. Are they financially stable?
  11. 11. Is budget justified?
  12. 12. Is governance robust?
  13. 13. What's the sustainability plan?
  14. 14. Is there genuine co-design?
  15. 15. Will reporting be meaningful?