A New Era in Federal Grant Writing: The Power—and Risk—of Words in 2025
We are entering a new era in federal grant writing. Under the Trump Administration in 2025, nonprofits must be more strategic than ever—not only in the words they do use in grant applications, but also in the words they avoid.
We’ve always said that grant writing is a word game. The language you use can make or break your application. But in this new political climate, we’re seeing something we haven’t encountered in over 20 years of grant writing: the active elimination of specific words from federal grant guidance.
The Evolution of Language in Grantmaking
Typically, language in federal grantmaking evolves gradually. New terms are added to align with shifting priorities and policy directions. For decades, we’ve trained grant writers to study the language used in Requests for Proposals (RFPs), agency websites, and federal funding priorities—and to reflect that language in their own proposals. This alignment not only strengthens applications but ensures that nonprofits stay focused on their core mission without drifting off course.
This practice remains essential. Matching language shows funders that you understand their goals, and it helps your program descriptions remain both authentic and fundable.
A New Challenge: Words to Avoid
However, as of February 2025, a new dynamic has emerged. Certain federal agencies have issued guidance that appears to discourage or even prohibit the use of specific terms in grant applications. This shift is not about what to say—it’s increasingly about what not to say.
This is a significant change from what we’ve experienced in past administrations. Instead of simply mirroring funding source language, nonprofits must now be cautious about terminology that could flag their applications or reduce competitiveness under the current political priorities.