Free Resource

Grant Readiness
Self-Assessment

Eleven questions. Five minutes. A clear picture of where you stand before you invest time in an application.

How to use this

Before you start writing, start here.

One of the most common reasons grant applications fail is not poor writing — it is applying before the organisation or the project is genuinely ready. This assessment helps you work out which side of that line you are on, right now.

Answer each question honestly. A no is not a disqualification. It is a planning task — and knowing about it before you apply saves significant time and protects your relationship with the funder for when you are ready.

The results guide at the bottom of the page will help you interpret your answers and decide on next steps.

Note on organisation type

This assessment is designed primarily for incorporated nonprofits and community organisations. If you are a purpose-led business, social enterprise, or unincorporated group, some questions may not apply — use your judgement and focus on what is relevant to your situation.

The Assessment

Answer yes or no to each question

Work through each group, then scroll down to read your results.

Funder and eligibility
Have you read the full grant guidelines and confirmed your project meets all eligibility criteria?
Have you confirmed this funder's priorities align with your specific project — not just that they fund your general category?
Your organisation
Can you clearly articulate this project's alignment with your organisation's mission and current strategic priorities?
Are all previous grant acquittals complete and lodged?
Does your organisation have the financial stability to manage grant funding responsibly if awarded?
Your project
Is the project fully designed — not still being developed as you fill in the application?
Do you have staff time and bandwidth to deliver this project alongside your existing commitments?
Can you demonstrate genuine community support for this work?
Delivery and accountability
Do you have systems to track grant expenditure separately from your operating finances?
Do you have the capacity to collect data and report on outcomes to the funder at the required intervals?
Do you have a realistic plan for what happens to this project when the funding ends?
See My Results
Almost there

Unlock your personalised results

Enter your email to reveal what your answers mean and what to do next. You'll also receive Impact Intel, our newsletter for purpose-led organisations.

You're in — scroll down for your results.

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"Grant readiness is not about perfection. It is about knowing where you stand, closing the gaps you can, and making purposeful decisions about the rest."
Dr Jess Hodgson — Founder, Keystone Impact Solutions
Working Together

How Keystone Impact Solutions can help

Whether you need to build your readiness from the ground up, or you are ready to apply and want a strategic partner, there is a way to work together that fits where you are right now.

Grant Readiness Review

A structured assessment of your organisation's grant readiness, with a clear action plan and prioritised gaps. Useful before your first application or after a difficult run of rejections.

Grant Strategy and Writing

From funder identification and application strategy through to a submission-ready application — built around your project, not a template.

Full Readiness Document Build

Work through the complete Grant Readiness Checklist with support to create, update, or consolidate every document funders expect to see.

Ongoing Grants Partnership

Retained strategic support for organisations with an active grants program — covering pipeline management, strategy, writing, and acquittals.

Explore Grant Services
Ready to talk?

Tell us about your organisation and where you are in the process.

A short conversation is always the right first step — we can work out together what kind of support would actually move things forward.

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