How to Build a Winning Grant Calendar for 2026
Curate prospects who fit your goals, values, and funding needs
By Holly Yeagle
Building a winning grant calendar starts with finding the right matches: funders whose priorities align with your mission and who are likely to support the work you are doing in your community. It is reminiscent of the famous Matchmaker song from Fiddler on the Roof, where Tevye’s daughters sing about finding their perfect partner. The lyrics, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker, look through your book, and make me a perfect match,” capture the same thoughtful selection that should guide your grant planning.
A finely-tuned grant calendar is not an exhaustive list of every foundation or corporate funder. Instead, it’s a curated, strategic collection of prospects who fit your goals, values, and funding needs for 2026.
Let’s explore what makes a good partner.
🎶 Is he handsome? 🎶
Researching a potential funder is essential to determine whether they are a good fit. Do their priorities align with your mission? Do they fund work in your geographic region? Have they supported organizations like yours or projects in your funding category? Check out the free Grant Prospect Scorecard on our website to help you get started and stay organized.
🎶 Is he a good provider? 🎶
Perhaps the better question is, “What kind of provider is he?” A funder will know if you have not done your research if, for example, you request $50,000 and the foundation only has the funding capacity for $5,000. Relationships take time. Be careful to align your grant request amount with similar amounts the funder has made. The funder’s IRS 990 is the best place to review. These references are found in online services like ProPublica or Candid.
🎶 Is he mature? 🎶
Well-established foundations often receive thousands of grant applications each year. That is why it is critical to stand out. In your application, clearly present the statistics that illustrate the issue you are addressing and the measurable outcomes your organization aims to achieve. Highlight what makes your nonprofit unique and why you are a strong fit for the funder's priorities. A clear, accurate budget is just as important as a compelling narrative. Ensure your organization appears as strong on paper as it is in practice. First impressions are important; present your work with clarity, professionalism, and purpose.
As you approach all of these questions one by one for each funder for your grant calendar, note these connections in a grant calendar.
The Matchmaker Book, aka “Winning Grant Calendar”
The grant calendar is as simple as a spreadsheet. While other project management services are useful for creating a grant calendar, we will focus on the simple spreadsheet. The spreadsheet tracks the list of funders, their information, deadlines, interests, restrictions, typical funding amounts, contact names, etc. The calendar is always a work in progress. Keep it up to date. Track wins/losses to refine your strategy. Do research to determine if deadlines have changed or if the organization has a new contact. (This is where our free grant scorecard comes in handy!)
You may also use those deadlines on a Google or Outlook calendar to remind you and your team of upcoming dates, due dates of reports, and dates to start working on the application. Reverse engineer each deadline and create a date for a planning meeting, creating budgets and narratives, and time for review and approval.
Find Me A Find, Catch Me A Catch
A blog post that references a legendary musical must end with the catchy chorus, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a match, Find me a find, Catch me a catch.” Find your best matches for 2026 and cultivate relationships that meet your community's needs for many years to come.
Curious if grant writing consulting could help your organization grow? Let’s find out together! Reach out today to explore whether Write On is the right fit. Contact us today to get started.
