At Grant Ready Kentucky, we support small to mid-sized nonprofits doing the heavy lifting for their communities, feeding families, teaching skills, healing trauma, and lifting voices that too often go unheard. We see your work, and we see the worry:
Can we still apply for federal grants without compromising who we are?
Yes, you can.
And yes, you should.
But the landscape has changed. Federal grant language has come under increased scrutiny in 2025. Yet that doesn’t mean your work no longer matters. It does. It means we must learn to talk about it differently — not falsely, but faithfully and strategically.
Adjusting Language Without Abandoning Mission
As my friend and colleague Johna Rodgers of Partners for Rural Impact wisely reminded me recently: “The basics of grant writing haven’t changed. We’ve always had to tailor our proposals to the funder’s priorities.”
We do this not to manipulate but to translate. We don’t water down our missions. We sharpen how we communicate them.
That means reading the solicitation closely, attending the webinars, exploring the updated agency websites, and when possible, speaking with program officers. These steps aren’t optional anymore. They’re essential.
What to Do When Language Feels Like a Minefield
Matt Watkins’ July 2025 opinion piece in The Chronicle of Philanthropy reminds us that language has become politically charged and emotionally saturated. What one group hears as justice, another hears as blame. What inspires in one room may alienate in another.
We must understand that even a single word, such as equity, inclusion, or justice, can land differently depending on cultural, moral, or political context. Watkins calls these “distortion triggers”: words that have stopped working as tools and now operate as litmus tests.
To succeed in this environment, Watkins recommends:
- Treating language as infrastructure, not ornament. What matters is not just what we say, but how it is received
- Recognizing distortion triggers. Use alternatives like “fair opportunity” instead of “equity,” or “community-wide engagement” instead of “inclusion”
- Leading with goals, then values. Say what you're doing (such as improving broadband or lowering overdose rates), then explain the “why”
The Stakes Are Too High to Stay Silent
This moment calls for both courage and wisdom. We must adapt not just for compliance, but for impact. The communities we serve still need food, healthcare, housing, education, and justice. If the words we use keep us from delivering those services, we owe it to them to choose better words.
We are not compromising. We are translating. We are listening more carefully and writing more strategically.
Still Writing Strong
The federal landscape may feel uncertain, but opportunity still exists. Funders still want to support meaningful work, but we must help them hear us clearly.
Your voice still matters. Your mission is still fundable. Your community still needs you.
So, let’s keep reading the solicitations. Keep attending the webinars. Keep reaching out to program officers. Keep learning the language. And keep telling our stories.
Because we’re still standing, still serving, and still writing strong.
Reference
Philanthropy’s Trigger Words — and How to Make Your Message Clear – Chronicle of Philanthropy