January 2026

Smarter, Not Busier:
Your 2026 Grants Reset

January always comes with the temptation to “do more”—more proposals, more deadlines, more hustle. But if 2025 taught us anything, it’s this:

Working harder isn’t the same as winning more.

This year, what if your guiding question wasn’t “How much can we squeeze in?” but “What will actually move the needle?”

A smarter grants year is built on reflection:

Which proposals in 2025 delivered the biggest impact for the effort?
Where did we stretch too thin?
Which funders felt like true partners—and which felt misaligned from the start?

In this issue, we’ll focus on turning hindsight into foresight: using what you learned in 2025 to design a 2026 grants strategy that’s leaner, more focused, and far more effective. Less scramble, more strategy. Less burnout, more wins.

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From Resolution Overload to Real Results: Trim the Grant Strategy Fat in 2026

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” — Abraham Lincoln (probably)

Ah, January. The time of year when gyms are packed, planners are pristine, and your inbox is overflowing with good intentions. We love a fresh start—but let’s be honest: most New Year’s resolutions flame out by February. Here’s how to cut the fluff and fund what matters in 2026

New Year, Same Grant Chaos? Let’s Change That. 🎉

When it comes to grants strategy, the same holds true. Big, vague plans like “apply for more grants” or “diversify funding” sound great—until reality kicks in. Need help? Let’s skip the burnout and get strategic instead.

✍️ Grant Writing Tips:

Your “Less But Better” Grants Playbook for 2026

This year, your competitive edge won’t come from doing everything—it’ll come from doing the right things really well.

Here are three practical moves to make January your smartest month of the year:

1. Run a 2025 “Grants ROI” Review
Not all proposals are created equal. Look back at last year and rate each opportunity on:

Effort: Approximate hours spent (staff + consultants).
Outcome: Amount awarded (or feedback gained) vs. what you asked for.
Strategic value: Did it deepen a key relationship? Open a new funding stream? Build credibility?

Pro Tip: Highlight the top 10–20% of opportunities that delivered the best combination of dollars + strategic value. Those are your models for what to seek more of in 2026.

2. Create a “Do Not Apply” List (Yes, Really)
Instead of only listing targets, also list what you’re intentionally NOT doing this year—for example:

Grants that are
Opportunities with poor historical fit (you’ve applied 2–3 times with no traction and minimal feedback)
Funders whose priorities don’t truly align with your mission or approach

This simple boundary list protects your team from shiny-object syndrome and keeps your limited capacity focused where it counts.

3. Build Your 2026 Core Narrative Library in January
Before the big deadlines hit, invest in a strong, reusable core:

Updated organizational overview (with 2025 outcomes)
Clear, current needs statement for each major program
Standard language on equity, community engagement, and evaluation
A 1–2 page “2026 Funding Priorities” brief you can adapt for LOIs and conversations

Think of this as your grant writing starter kit. The more you can pull from high-quality, pre-vetted content, the more energy you’ll have for tailoring to each funder instead of reinventing the wheel.

Grant opportunities

NSF STEM K-12 (STEM K-12)

Award Amount: Most awards supported by the program will range between $25,000 and $750,000, with a typical duration of one to three years

Deadline: Full proposal accepted anytime

Description: Supports fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances STEM teaching and learning and improves understanding of education across the human lifespan and a range of formal and informal settings.

Findable Accessible Interoperable Reusable Open Science (FAIROS)

Award Amount: Up to $600,000 for up to a three-year duration

Deadline: April 8, 2026

Description: Supports sustainable open science and data management by advancing research, education and cyberinfrastructure while encouraging collaboration and reducing barriers to data sharing.

Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) - Targeted STEM Infusion Projects (TSIP)

Award Amount: Up to $500,000

Deadline: April 1, 2026

Description: Supports the attainment of a short-term, well-defined goal to improve the quality of STEM education at an eligible institution.

Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) - TCU Enterprise Advancement Centers (TEA Centers)

Award Amount: Up to $3.5 million

Deadline: June 1, 2026

Description: Coalesce the STEM and/or STEM education expertise into a team, designed to support and promote the STEM goals, needs, aspirations, or interests of the chartering reservation or tribe(s).

EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement: EPSCoR Research Fellows

Award Amount: Up to $300,000 for EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF; EPSCoR Research Fellows: NASA receive an additional $60K externally provided by NASA

Deadline: April 14, 2026

Description: Supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation’s private, government or academic research institutions. Investigators may be affiliated with institutions of higher education or nonprofits.

IUSE/Professional Formation of Engineers: Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (IUSE/PFE: RED)

Award Amount: Up to $150,000 for Planning (Track 1); Up to $1,000,000 for Adaptation & Innovation (Track 2); $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 for Innovation (Track 3); $1,500,000 and $2,500,000 for Innovation Partnerships (Track 4)

Deadline: April 14, 2026 for Planning (Track 1) proposals; September 8, 2026 for Planning (Track 1), Adaptation & Implementation (Track 2), Innovation (Track 3), and Innovation Partnerships (Track 4) proposals

Description: Supports fundamental changes to the training of undergraduate engineering students that equip them with the technical and professional skills needed to solve complex societal problems.

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP)

Award Amount: $10,000 to $100,000 for most applicants$10,000 maximum for Challenge America discipline$30,000 to $150,000 for Local Arts Agencies eligible for subgranting

Deadlines: Part 1 (Grants.gov): February 12, 2026 & July 9, 2026Part 2 (NEA Applicant Portal): February 25, 2026 & July 21, 2026

Description: Grants for Arts Projects is the NEA’s principal project-based funding program supporting excellent arts activities across a wide variety of disciplines—such as arts education, dance, music, theater, visual and media arts, and more—to benefit Americans nationwide. Eligible nonprofit organizations, units of state/local government, and federally recognized tribal communities can request funding to support arts creation and presentation, arts learning, and community engagement. All grants require a 1:1 nonfederal cost share or match.

🎉 Grant Win Alert! 🎉

Purpose: Supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students by providing scholarships and targeted supports to 24 students majoring in STEM.

Success Total: $1,998,226

Carinci Consulting Role: Reviewer

Lessons Learned:

Turning 2025 Debriefs into 2026 Wins

Reflection is only powerful if it leads to different choices. Here’s how to turn last year’s experience into smarter moves this year:

1. Every Decision Needs a Lesson

For each major 2025 grant (win or loss), capture three quick notes:

What worked?
What didn’t?
What will we do differently next time?

Keep these in a living “Grants Playbook” document. Review it before you start any big 2026 proposal—it’s like giving your future self a shortcut.

2. Celebrate What You’ll Stop Doing

We’re good at celebrating wins; we’re less good at celebrating strategic no’s.

Ask your team:

What drained us last year with very little payoff?
Which internal processes slowed us down?
Where did we say “yes” when we should have said “not this round?”

Then turn those into explicit 2026 commitments (e.g., “We will not start large federal proposals with less than X weeks’ lead time” or “We will not pursue opportunities below $___ unless they are key relationship-builders”).

3. Make Collaboration the Default, Not the Exception

Many 2025 pain points probably came from misalignment: program, finance, data/evaluation, and leadership not fully in sync.

For 2026, try this:

Host a one-hour grants kickoff meeting in January with reps from all key areas.

Share: 2025 lessons, your draft 2026 priorities, and a short list of target funders.
Ask: “What do you need from the grants process to make 2026 better for you?”

You’ll surface concerns early, build buy-in, and make it much easier to move quickly when deadlines hit.

🗣️ Call to Action

If your grant efforts feel scattered, stalled, or overwhelming, this 30-minute Grant Strategy Reset is designed to help you cut through the noise and refocus.

In a short, targeted session, we’ll review where you are, identify what’s working (and what’s not), and clarify your best next moves so you’re not leaving funding on the table.

✨ Perfect for nonprofits that want clarity, alignment, and momentum—without a long-term commitment.

🔗 Book your Grant Strategy Below

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