What Funders Need to Know About Your UVP
Decision-makers look for signals that help them assess three critical dimensions of your work: alignment, credibility, and impact. Their review process centers on core elements that reveal whether you're ready, whether you can deliver, and whether your work matters in the way they need it to.
Understanding what reviewers prioritize allows you to position your work with intention.
Mission Fit
Every grant program has a defined purpose. Reviewers assess how well your work supports that purpose and whether your outcomes advance the priorities outlined in the opportunity.
When the connection between your work and their mission is direct and easy to recognize, your application moves through the process with fewer questions and stronger momentum.
Evidence of Forward Movement
Applications that demonstrate traction stand out. Review teams study the activity surrounding your work: engagement from your audience, measurable progress you can already point to, and signs that your efforts are consistent and sustainable.
These details signal reliability. They help reviewers understand that your work is already unfolding on the ground, not just proposed on paper.
Outcomes That Show Your Contribution
Impact sits at the center of most funding decisions. Reviewers look for a clear picture of what has changed because your work exists.This includes:
Who is affected
What shifts you've already observed
How you track those changes over time
A focused snapshot of results often carries more weight than a lengthy narrative. Specificity builds confidence.
How Reviewers Make Sense of Your Application
Behind every review, a few guiding questions shape the decision process:
Does this work support our stated focus areas?
Is the audience served well-defined and relevant to this opportunity?
Is there visible engagement or demand for what they offer?
Do they have the structure and capacity to carry out the next phase?
Is the funding request specific, purposeful, and realistic?
These questions help reviewers determine fit, strength, and timing. When your application answers them clearly, you make their job easier and your case stronger.
What This Means for You
Use this insight to position your work with precision throughout the rest of the module.
Know what reviewers are looking for, speak to those priorities directly, and build your proposal around the signals that matter most.