Year-end Grant Writing Ingredients

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Sarah Smith

Grant Soup – Get your year-end ingredients together

Cooler days are here, and all I can think about is soup. And year-end grant writing. But mostly soup. It is my very favorite meal to cook and eat and we have it frequently in my household in cooler weather. Soup is endlessly versatile: you can make it with almost anything, use up odds and ends from the kitchen, and always find comfort in it. But no matter what goes in, a few constants make soup great: a good stock or bouillon base, sautéed vegetables like onions for depth, and the right balance of ingredients so it is neither too thin nor too chunky.

Cooking ingredients like garlic, peppers, and mushrooms sitting next to soup in a pot.

Now, lest you think this is just a blog about soup (though honestly, a Partner for Better side quest of a “Soup Blog” sounds delightful), I want to draw a comparison between soup and year-end grant writing. I love grant writing almost as much as I love soup. Just like soup, grants are wonderfully diverse. I might be writing for a new building one week and a dance performance the next – I love the wide range of programs and projects I get to write about! But, like soup, there are essential ingredients that go into successful grant writing. And these ingredients do not have much to do with the actual narrative. Here is a list of what you will want to gather as we head into the end of the year to set yourself up for the best grant writing in 2026:

  • A budget for next year. Every nonprofit should have a budget, even if it is simple. Ideally, it is broken out by programs so you can easily reference numbers in grants. Funders may dislike “general operating” requests, but a program-based budget gives you the data you need for those program or project funding requests. By this time of year, your current profit and loss statement should give you enough to project a solid budget for the following year.
  • Numbers served. Know who or what you reached with your programs. Ideally, you should track unduplicated numbers served. When applying for funding, you should be able to confidently state your reach to optimize success.
  • Outcomes. Beyond how many you served, know what changed because of your work. Did animals find homes? Did the stream get cleaner? Did participants learn something new? You already know your work makes an impact, but now is the time to compile those outcomes so you can tell your story in ways that resonate with funders and reviewers.
  • An annual report. One of the best ways to share your story is through an annual report. It does not have to be overwhelming. Even one or two pages can highlight who you served, what changed, who supported you, and some key accomplishments. Many grant applications allow you to upload an annual report, so do not miss the chance to tell your story in your own words.
  • Realistic grant goals. Remember that only about 10 to 20 percent of grants get funded. A solid, prioritized list of grants for next year helps ensure success. With the pieces above in place, you will be ready to go.

If any of these items are on your year-end grant writing to-do list, Partner for Better is here to help. Reach out anytime, we’d love to support you!

And now, the real recipe. This is our family’s favorite soup, passed down from my mom and still a staple in our house.

Cheesy Corn Chowder

  • 1-2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 2 Cups chicken stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ¼ tsp sage
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • Salt to taste
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 tbsp whole wheat flour
  • 1 ¼ cup milk, buttermilk or cream
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1 ½ to 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
  • Optional: 4-5 tbsp of dry white wine or rice vinegar, chopped chives for serving

Cook potato, bay, sage, cumin and salt in water until barely tender (15 – 20 minutes). In a separate skillet, saute onion in butter until tender; blend in flour. Off heat, gradually add milk to the onions and flour mixture, stirring constantly. Stir milk mixture and corn into potatoes and stock. Add nutmeg and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add in cheese and stir until it melts. Stir in wine or vinegar if using. Serve with crusty bread and chives for a garnish.