Before submission

Grant proposal review checklist

A grant proposal review checklist should catch the errors that polished writing can hide.

Use this before external review, advisor review or final portal upload.

Final review checks

Area	Review question	Pass signal
Fit	Does every answer map to the call objective?	No off-topic company story
Eligibility	Can the reviewer find the eligibility proof?	Applicant and call fit are visible
Evidence	Does each claim have proof?	Specific evidence appears near the claim
Work plan	Are activities, owners and outputs clear?	No orphan task
Budget	Does every cost connect to work?	Budget and work plan agree
Attachments	Are names, dates and versions final?	Files match portal requirements
Portal	Is submission access tested?	No last-day account surprise

Reads only rules, applicant fit, consortium rules and documents.

Checks cost categories, match funding and work-package links.

Reads for clarity, evidence and evaluator questions.

Controls portal access, final file names and upload timing.

The final draft still says what the company does more than what the funded work will do.
Budget numbers changed after narrative review.
Partner letters or attachments are not final.
The team cannot explain the work in one sentence.

Use at least one reviewer who did not write the draft. Separate eligibility, budget and narrative review when the application is large.

Review should start when a full rough draft exists, not after the final deadline week begins.

Check fit, timing, budget and evidence before a grant application takes time away from customers, product work or fundraising.