7-Minute Go/No-Go Rubric

Use this rubric to quickly evaluate grant opportunities. Spend exactly 7 minutes on this assessment.

Instructions

For each criterion, mark Go, No-Go, or Maybe. Count your scores at the end.

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1. Funder Alignment (2 minutes)

Questions to Consider:

• Does the funder’s mission align with your work?
• Are their stated priorities a match for your programs?
• Have they funded similar organizations or projects?

Decision: ☐ Go ☐ No-Go ☐ Maybe

Notes:

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2. Eligibility (1 minute)

Questions to Consider:

• Do you meet all stated eligibility requirements?
• Are there geographic, organizational, or programmatic restrictions?
• Is your organization type eligible?

Decision: ☐ Go ☐ No-Go ☐ Maybe

Notes:

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3. Capacity & Timeline (2 minutes)

Questions to Consider:

• Can you realistically meet the deadline?
• Do you have the internal capacity to gather materials and provide inputs?
• Is the timeline compatible with your other priorities?

Decision: ☐ Go ☐ No-Go ☐ Maybe

Notes:

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4. Request Amount & Match (1 minute)

Questions to Consider:

• Is the request amount appropriate for your organization size?
• Can you meet any match requirements (cash or in-kind)?
• Is the funding level worth the effort?

Decision: ☐ Go ☐ No-Go ☐ Maybe

Notes:

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5. Competition & Win Probability (1 minute)

Questions to Consider:

• How competitive is this opportunity likely to be?
• Do you have a competitive advantage?
• What’s your estimated win probability (be honest)?

Decision: ☐ Go ☐ No-Go ☐ Maybe

Notes:

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Final Decision

Count your scores:

• Go: _____
• No-Go: _____
• Maybe: _____

Decision Rule

• 4-5 Go: ✅ Pursue this opportunity
• 3 Go: ⚠️ Revisit in 1-2 weeks with more information
• 0-2 Go: ❌ Pass on this opportunity

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Next Steps

If Go:

• Add to grant calendar
• Schedule internal planning meeting
• Begin prospect research
• Identify materials needed

If Maybe:

• Set reminder to revisit in 1-2 weeks
• Gather additional information
• Consult with team

If No-Go:

• Document decision and reasoning
• Remove from active consideration
• Focus on higher-probability opportunities

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This rubric is part of Wellridge Advisory’s resource library. For more tools and templates, visit wellridgeadvisory.com/resources.