Written by: Eileana Gudiño, Grants and Evaluation Director for Valley of the Sun United Way
Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW) is committed to investing in nonprofit organizations that are creating meaningful impact across our community. Through grant funding, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building support, VSUW works alongside nonprofits to strengthen programs that advance education, workforce development, housing stability, health, and basic needs across Maricopa County.
As part of our commitment to supporting strong and sustainable community programs, we’ve developed the following guidance based on common feedback from fund reviewers. These insights highlight what reviewers look for most when assessing applications and are intended to help organizations submit clear, compelling, and competitive proposals. Strong applications clearly explain what you do, who you serve, how it leads to outcomes, and why it matters.
1. Clearly Define Your Program
Reviewers must be able to quickly understand exactly what your program delivers.
Make sure you clearly state:
What services or activities are provided
How often services are delivered (frequency)
How long participants are engaged (duration)
Who delivers the services (staff, volunteers, partners)
Avoid blending multiple programs together unless they are intentionally designed as one integrated program.
Ask yourself:
Could someone unfamiliar with our organization explain our program after reading this?
2. Clearly Align to the Strategy You Are Applying For
Do not assume alignment—explain it explicitly.
Show how your program supports the specific funding strategy (e.g., Education, Workforce Development, Housing Prevention, Health)
Explain how your activities lead to the outcomes that matter for that strategy
If your work addresses multiple needs, focus your narrative on the strategy outcomes tied to this request
Examples:
Education: How does this improve academic achievement, literacy, attendance, or school readiness?
Workforce Development: How does this lead to credential attainment, employment, or wage growth?
Housing Prevention: How does this prevent eviction, homelessness, or destabilization?
Health: How does this lead to food access and meeting basic needs?
3. Define Clear Goals, Outcomes, and Metrics
Strong applications show a clear line of sight from activities → outcomes → impact.
Be sure to include:
Clear goals (what change you want to see)
Measurable outcomes, not just numbers served
Consistent metrics across narrative, goals, and tables
A brief explanation of how data is collected, by whom, and how often
Avoid:
Leaving indicators blank
Using different numbers or outcomes in different sections
Listing outputs only (e.g., “100 meals provided”) without outcomes
4. Describe Your Use of Data and Continuous Improvement (CQI)
Funders want to know how you learn from your work.
Include:
How you review program data
How feedback (participant, family, or partner) is collected
How data informs program improvement
Even simple CQI practices (check‑ins, quarterly reviews, feedback surveys) strengthen your application.
5. Be Clear and Transparent in Your Budget
Your budget and narrative should tell the same story.
Best practices:
Ensure line items clearly connect to your program activities
Explain any surplus or deficit (planned or unplanned)
Clarify large expenses (e.g., transportation, food, fees for service)
Describe in‑kind support (especially donated space) and its value
Make sure numbers match across all sections
If the request represents a large share of your total budget, explain why.
6. Address Sustainability and Funding Diversity
Reviewers want to understand how the program will continue over time.
Include:
Current and anticipated funding sources
Steps you are taking to diversify funding
Whether the program is a pilot, expansion, or ongoing effort
What happens if this funding ends or decreases
Transparency is stronger than optimism without a plan.
7. Clearly Define Your Target Population and Reach
Avoid vague descriptions of who you serve.
Be specific about:
The population(s) served
Geographic area (e.g., Maricopa County)
Eligibility and referral sources
Recruitment and outreach methods
Unduplicated counts (ensure consistency throughout the application)
8. Explain Your Evidence Base or Rationale
If you reference “evidence‑based” or “best practice,” explain what that means.
Include:
The model, curriculum, or approach you use
Why it is appropriate for your population
Whether the program is proven, adapted, or a pilot
What success looks like, and how you will know if it is working
If the program is new, clearly identify it as such and explain learning goals.
Final Application Checklist
Before submitting, review your application for:
✅ Clear program description and dosage
✅ Strong alignment to the selected strategy
✅ Consistent goals, metrics, and numbers throughout
✅ Clear data collection and CQI approach
✅ Transparent and aligned budget
✅ Realistic sustainability plan
Strong applications do not need to be complex. They need to be clear, consistent, and aligned.
For any questions, reach out to egudino@vsuw.org.
