Feasibility Reviews
Know Before You Leap.
Applications for complex funding opportunities often demand substantial investments of staff time and consulting fees. A feasibility review, often called a go/no-go assessment, helps determine whether pursuing a specific opportunity makes sense before your team commits heavily to the process.
I analyze the funding guidelines alongside your organization’s current position to assess practical fit. The review considers funder alignment, compliance burdens, key deadlines, and the competitive landscape.
The goal is not to predict whether you will win. It is to identify obvious barriers, uncover areas of risk, clarify what would be required to compete, and give leadership a stronger basis for deciding whether to proceed.
What the Review May Cover
Depending on the funding opportunity, the analysis may include:
Applicant eligibility and geographic restrictions
Required registrations and organizational prerequisites
Mandatory program, partnership, or staffing requirements
Cash or in-kind matching obligations
Indirect cost provisions
Fiscal and administrative requirements
Required letters, memoranda of understanding, approvals, or certifications
Submission deadlines and internal review timelines
Evaluation criteria and scoring priorities
Areas where the organization appears well aligned
Gaps that may weaken or prevent a competitive application
Example Deliverables
Compliance and Eligibility Matrix
A structured review of mandatory applicant requirements, geographic limitations, registrations, certifications, and other threshold criteria.
Financial Capacity and Match Review
An assessment of matching-fund requirements, allowable indirect costs, and other financial obligations that may affect the organization’s ability to apply.
Resource and Timeline Risk Assessment
A review of whether sufficient time and internal capacity remain to draft the application, gather supporting documents, secure partner commitments, complete approvals, and conduct internal review.
Scoring Alignment Matrix
A comparison of the organization’s current program strengths, documentation, and capabilities against the funder’s published evaluation criteria. This is intended to identify areas of alignment and weakness, not to predict an actual reviewer score.
Executive Recommendation and Decision Meeting
A concise written recommendation followed by a 30- to 45-minute working session with client leadership to review findings, discuss unresolved risks, and support a final go/no-go decision.
When a Feasibility Review Makes Sense
This service is most useful when the opportunity is substantial enough that applying would require significant staff time, coordination, documentation, or financial commitment. It can be especially valuable for federal, state, and large foundation opportunities with detailed eligibility rules, matching requirements, scoring rubrics, or complex submission packages.
A disciplined decision made early can save significant effort later. Sometimes the right answer is to move forward. Sometimes it is to wait, strengthen the organization’s position, and pursue a better-fit opportunity.