After Submitting: Next Steps

Once you’ve submitted a grant, it’s time to sit back and wait (probably for a longer time than you think). Don’t contact the funder or pester them for an answer. You will hear back from them.

If you receive the grant:

Pat yourself on the back. This is a huge accomplishment!
Send a thank you letter to the person who sent you the award letter. Address them by name, be professional, be polite, and be brief. Note that you appreciate the grant, and briefly restate the impact it will have.
Make sure to carefully read your award letter, contract, or agreement. You’re legally bound to the terms of any document you sign. This document will likely include reporting requirements, use of funds, etc.
Use the money for the intended purpose. Whatever you do, don’t reallocate these funds to another project without discussing it with the grantor and getting written permission. In general, it is never a good idea to even ask, as it could harm your future chances with the funder. In a true emergency (example: the money was to make your building more accessible, but the building burned down), contact the funder as quickly as possible, be transparent about what happened, and ask for their guidance about how to proceed.
Keep good records. At a minimum, you will probably need to show that you used the funds for the intended purpose, that you worked toward the goals outlined in the agreement, and the impact that the funds had on your program.
Submit reports on time. Some funders grant money to the same organizations over and over. Once you have received a grant from them, it’s easier to get another one. You never want to annoy someone who is giving you money by missing reporting deadlines.
Thank the funder wherever you talk about the project (on your website, in your social media, in brochures, in your annual report, etc.).

If you don’t receive the grant:

Still pat yourself on the back. You’ve put in a lot of work and you’ve learned a lot.
Don’t take it personally. Rejection rates are high. The funder can’t possibly give money to everyone who asks. Sometimes the decision is subjective. There’s no way for people to fully remove their personal lives from their professional ones; some requests will strike a more personal chord with the reviewer than others, and there’s no way to plan for that.
Reach out to the organization. Thank them for taking the time to review your proposal and ask if there’s anything you could do better next time. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to give you guidance. Some will even share their scoring sheets and give you specific details about what their organization values most. Be polite in these interactions and remember to say thank you. Don’t use this time to try to convince them to fund your proposal. Take the feedback and plan to write an even better proposal next time.
Look for the next opportunity. If you’re persistent, you will eventually find the perfect grant.