Keep an offline copy.
Prefer to mark it up in a board packet prep meeting or route it to staff for review? The worksheet PDF carries the same ten questions and result bands, plus notes space for ownership, missing evidence, and next actions.
Resource · Grants & funding
Funding Readiness Scorecard
A practical self-check for rural agencies, small towns, counties, RTPAs, transportation commissions, and tribal governments that need to know whether a project package is actually ready for a funding push.
10 questions · 20 points · 3 readiness bands
What this is
- A 10-question check grounded in real application packaging work.
- Plain-English readiness bands: Needs Foundation Work, Almost Ready, Ready to Pursue.
- A way to align staff internally before you spend scarce time on a live funding window.
How to use it
Pressure-test the package before the deadline pressure hits.
The scorecard surfaces avoidable weakness early: fuzzy scope, shaky cost logic, unorganized evidence, unclear approvals, or missing narrative support. Run it with the staff who own each piece and you will know where the real gaps are before a deadline forces the question.
One honest caveat
A high score is not a guarantee of funding. This is a self-check, not a ruling on grant eligibility, regulatory sufficiency, or award likelihood. It tells you whether the package is organized enough to defend, and what to fix first.
Domains covered
- Plan freshness
- Project definition clarity
- Cost estimate basis
- Match readiness
- Outreach evidence
- Data and mapping readiness
- Board or leadership readiness
- Narrative support materials
- Delivery capacity
- Package discipline
Common gaps we see
- A project concept exists, but scope limits and phase are still fuzzy.
- Costs are based on rough memory rather than a current documented basis.
- Good outreach happened, but it is not organized into usable evidence.
- GIS figures and supporting data exist across multiple folders with no clean assembly path.
- Leadership support is assumed, but required action timing is still unclear.
Result bands
Three outcomes, one clear next step.
Score each question the same way, then read your total against these bands. Each one comes with the move that matters most from where you stand.
- 010–9 points
Needs Foundation Work
Key building blocks are missing or too early to support a strong funding push.
Focus first on project definition, evidence, approvals, and the basic narrative package before chasing a live application window.
- 0210–15 points
Almost Ready
You likely have a viable concept, but several gaps still create avoidable risk.
Close the highest-leverage gaps now so the application story, technical support, and internal approvals are aligned before submission.
- 0316–20 points
Ready to Pursue
Your package appears materially positioned for a focused funding push.
Use the remaining time to tighten program fit, submission discipline, and any final evidence needed for a clean, defensible package.
Interactive self-assessment
Score your current package.
Answer each question using the same standard: not in place, partial, or ready. Once you finish, you will see your current readiness band and a recommended next move.
Live result
Funding readiness snapshot
This is a self-assessment, not a guarantee of award. Use it to identify the next gaps to close before a funding push.
Questions answered
0/10
Current score
0/20
Result band
Complete all questions to reveal your band
10 questions · 20 points total
Answer each question using the same standard: not in place, partial, or ready.
When complete, you will see a plain-English result and a recommended next step.
Questions or corrections
If a question is unclear or a program rule has changed, tell Nathaniel so the scorecard can be fixed.