Grant Eligibility Checklist: 10 Questions to Answer Before You Apply

A well-written application for a program you don't qualify for is still a rejection. Before drafting anything, run through these ten questions.

The checklist

• Is the program open right now, or is it closed or paused?
• Is your business located in the country, province or state the program serves?
• Does your business structure qualify — incorporated, sole proprietor, non-profit?
• Does your industry fall within the program's focus?
• Are you within the employee-count and revenue limits?
• Does the program apply to your type of project?
• Does it require matching funds or reimbursement after spending? Can you cover the cash flow?
• Is there a deadline, and can you gather the required documents before it?
• Does the program apply directly to you, or is it delivered through an intermediary such as a municipality or non-profit?
• Have you already received funding for the same costs that would disqualify you?

How to read your answers

Any clear no on questions one through six usually means move on. A no on seven means you need a plan for bridging the cash flow before you apply. Question nine matters more than people expect: some well-known programs are applied for by a local organization on behalf of businesses, so a direct application isn't an option.

What to do when the answer is maybe

Where the rules are unclear, contact the program administrator before you write a word. Many programs, including NRC IRAP, expect that conversation first. Ten minutes on the phone can save weeks of drafting.