How to Avoid Instant Rejection

Overview

Early rejection usually comes from preventable issues like missing requirements, formatting errors, or eligibility problems that remove your application before review begins. Precise, complete materials keep your proposal under consideration.

For a quick look at frequent application pitfalls, explore this list from Unfunded List, or review our exhaustive list below:

Eligibility Issues

🚩 ineligible project, applicant type, or location

🚩 proposing activities the funder does not support

🚩 missing required registrations or portal setup

🚩 failing to meet required match percentages (when match is mandatory)

Submission Errors

🚩 submitting after the deadline

🚩 incomplete uploads

🚩 uploads that fail due to technical errors

🚩 wrong file types or formats

🚩 incorrect file names when naming rules are required

🚩 using outdated or previous-cycle templates

Missing or Incomplete Content

🚩 missing required documents

🚩 unanswered questions

🚩 missing signatures or verification

Budget Problems

🚩 budgets that do not match the request

🚩 numbers that conflict across sections

🚩 wrong budget format

🚩 incorrect project period, fiscal year, or date range

Instruction Violations

🚩 exceeding word or character limits

🚩 attaching materials not requested

🚩 skipping required forms

What’s Next

Next, you’ll bring together everything from this module to build a stronger, more consistent application strategy.