When it comes to writing a grant proposal, many nonprofits rush to fill out the application, believing that answering questions as they appear is the fastest way to complete the process. However, this approach often leads to disjointed messaging, redundant answers, and a lack of clarity—all of which can weaken your proposal.
Instead, the most strategic and successful grant writers start with the executive summary first.
Think of the executive summary as the North Star of your grant proposal—it provides direction, ensures alignment with funder priorities, and helps you articulate your case in the most compelling way possible. By getting this section right first, the rest of your grant proposal will be stronger, more cohesive, and more persuasive.
In this post, we’ll break down the role of an executive summary, explain why it should come first, and provide immediately actionable tips to craft one that sets your grant proposal up for success.
What is an Executive Summary?
The executive summary is a high-level overview of your grant proposal—it provides a snapshot of who you are, what you do, what funding you need, and why your work matters. Funders often read this first to determine whether your application is worth reviewing in depth.
A strong executive summary should include:
✅ Your organization’s mission and impact
✅ The problem you address and why it matters
✅ The funding request and how it will be used
✅ The expected outcomes and impact
✅ Alignment with the funder’s priorities
In short, it answers the questions: Who are you? What do you do? Why does it matter? And how will this funding make a difference?
Why Write the Executive Summary First?
1️⃣ It Forces You to Clarify Your Message
Writing an executive summary first forces you to define your funding request clearly before you get caught up in application details. This ensures that every section of your grant proposal aligns with a clear, compelling ask.
2️⃣ It Saves Time & Prevents Rewriting
Starting with the summary helps eliminate last-minute scrambling, rewriting, and inconsistencies that can arise when a proposal lacks a clear structure.
3️⃣ It Keeps Your Proposal Focused & Fundable
A well-crafted summary acts as a blueprint for the rest of your proposal, ensuring that every section contributes to a unified, persuasive argument.
4️⃣ Funders Often Read It First—And Decide Quickly
Many funders skim the executive summary before reading the full proposal. If your summary doesn’t grab their attention, they may not read the rest.
How to Write an Executive Summary That Stands Out
✨ 1. Start with a Strong Opening Sentence
Your first sentence should hook the reader and clearly state what your nonprofit does. Avoid jargon and vague language.
🚫 Weak Example: “We are a nonprofit organization that serves underserved communities.”
✅ Stronger Example: “Each year, [Your Nonprofit Name] provides [specific service] to over [number] [target population] in [location], ensuring [key impact].”
✨ 2. Clearly Define the Problem You Solve
Funders want to fund solutions to urgent problems—so clearly define the problem you address. Use compelling data and real-world impact to make the case.
🔹 Example: “In [your community], [specific problem] affects [number] people annually. Without intervention, [consequence of inaction]. Our program addresses this issue by [solution].”
🔹 Tip: Avoid general statements. Instead of “Many people struggle with food insecurity,” say “1 in 5 families in our city go to bed hungry each night.”
✨ 3. State Your Funding Request Clearly
Be direct about how much funding you are requesting and how it will be used.
🔹 Example: “We are requesting a $50,000 grant to expand our literacy program, providing 200 additional students with access to free tutoring and educational resources.”
🔹 Tip: Tie your funding request to specific, measurable outcomes.
✨ 4. Highlight the Impact & Measurable Outcomes
Funders care about results. Show them how their investment will make a real difference.
🔹 Example: “With this funding, we will: ✔ Provide 200 low-income students with literacy tutoring ✔ Increase student reading scores by an average of 2 grade levels ✔ Train 50 volunteer mentors to support program participants”
🔹 Tip: Use bullet points for clarity. Funders should see at a glance the outcomes of their investment.
✨ 5. Show How You Align with the Funder’s Priorities
Many grant applications fail simply because they don’t clearly align with the funder’s mission. Explicitly connect your work to their priorities.
🔹 Example: “This grant aligns with [Funder’s Name]’s commitment to [their mission], as our program directly addresses [specific priority or focus area].”
🔹 Tip: Use the funder’s language from their website, mission statement, or past grants to show a clear alignment.
✨ 6. Keep It Concise & Compelling
Your executive summary should be 1-2 pages maximum and written in clear, persuasive language. Avoid jargon and make every word count.
🔹 Tip: Read it out loud. If it doesn’t flow smoothly or sounds too complex, simplify it.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
✅ Review a recent grant proposal and evaluate its executive summary. Does it clearly define your mission, the problem, your request, and impact? ✅ Draft a “universal” executive summary for your nonprofit that can be slightly tailored for different grants. ✅ Ask a colleague or board member to review your summary. If they can’t explain your request back to you clearly, refine it. ✅ Look at winning grant proposals from similar organizations to see how their executive summaries are structured. ✅ Practice cutting unnecessary words to make your summary more powerful and direct.
Final Thoughts: Let Your Executive Summary Lead the Way
Your executive summary is more than just a summary—it’s your grant proposal’s North Star. By writing it first, you create a clear, compelling foundation that ensures every part of your proposal is aligned, persuasive, and fundable.
Start with strategy. Focus on impact. And let your executive summary lead the way. 🌟
📢 Now it’s your turn! What challenges do you face when writing an executive summary? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇