An Experienced Assessor’s Guide to Writing Better Grant Applications

The following post is advice I received from an experienced (anonymous) grant assessor on how to write better grant applications.

Whilst this is one person's viewpoint and every assessor is different, I found it genuinely helpful. Here are the main things they as an assessor would look for in a good application, and the most common mistakes they see.

In this post:

• Being Clear as to how Public Money will be Spent
• EDI, Safeguarding and Environmental Considerations
• Curation and Creative Intent
• How to Write a Strong Application
• Common Mistakes in Grant Applications
• Scoring, Assessment and Feedback
• On Using AI in Grant Applications

Being Clear as to how Public Money will be Spent

When assessing an application, the first thing they would do is look at the budget.

You need to show clearly how you will use public money. It should be transparent and logical, and the spending should be clearly explained and justified.

That means:

• A clear, well-reasoned budget that demonstrates understanding of how budgets and in-kind contributions work
• A knowledge of industry-standard rates
• Consider conditions around fair pay, flexible working, worker voice, and so on.

EDI, Safeguarding and Environmental Considerations

Evidence of understanding EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) is central to the assessment.

It should be looked at as an opportunity to think more creatively and inclusively about your project, rather than as box-ticking exercise. Who is not currently engaged, and who might find participation difficult?

Assessors consider whether an event or project is genuinely open and accessible:

• Is the venue physically accessible?
• Have the needs of deaf people or people with hearing impairments been considered?
• Are you offering opportunities for people who are neurodiverse to engage with your work?
• Is it accessible to people at different income levels?
• Have you properly analysed the environmental impact of your event?

They made a great suggestion regarding safeguarding - to consider having at least two people in your organisation or at an event who are responsible for safeguarding. These are people anyone can approach or contact about any issues.

They also mentioned the importance of considering how you welcome people to the venue.

Curation and Creative Intent

Think about the answer to the question - does the world need this piece of work right now? If so, why?

Think about the experience you are creating — not just the event itself. An artist with a clear vision and strong creative intent stands out.

Consider the rules and conditions you are setting: for example, no phone recording, long uninterrupted performances, acoustic-only spaces, relaxed performances and so on.

There is growing appetite for events that feel real and present, without the mediation of technology.

How to Write a Strong Application

Be direct, honest and truthful. Assessors are busy — they want clarity, not poetry.

• Use bullet points rather than long essays
• State clearly: what is going to happen, why it is of high quality, what effect it will have, and why you can be trusted with public money
• Be specific about who is involved, who the audience is, and what makes this project valuable
• Show your track record — demonstrate that you or your organisation can deliver
• Show you have thought about partnership working, environment, and EDI
• Avoid phrases like “we hope it will be amazing” — say instead why it is important, why now, and what the impact will be
• The passion you feel (“I love singing”) is not enough. Shift the focus outward: what are you offering to others? What will it inspire?

Common Mistakes in Grant Applications

The same errors appear regularly in applications:

• No clear explanation of how the project will be delivered. Basic planning information is missing
• An obvious lack of research
• Failing to name who will be involved in the project (performers, staff, collaborators)
• Not defining the audience, or the philosophy behind the work
• Failing to consider other organisations or projects in the space - not looking at the bigger picture.
• Vague or overly complex language — use plain, accessible language instead

Scoring, Assessment and Feedback

Different funders use different systems. Some use a scoring system and give less written feedback. Others provide more written feedback when assessing a grant application.

They made the point that you might still submit a fantastic application, and if the round is heavily over-subscribed, you still might not be successful. There's always a little bit of a lottery aspect to it. You may miss out just because of the amount of competition.

If your application isn't successful, you can follow up after a decision and request feedback from the assessor on what worked and what didn’t. You can also try and request a copy of your assessment after a decision is made.

On Using AI in Grant Applications

The assessor I spoke to was realistic about the use of AI. They suggested using it sensibly — if AI writes the text, the content must reflect what you will genuinely do and you are still responsible for delivering what it describes. One great tip was to use it as a tool for checking your application against funding guidelines and criteria, to make sure you're fulfilling all the criteria.

I've written a post about using Claude Cowork for Grant-Writing.

Thanks for reading, and thanks very much to my colleague for their time and expertise.