The Grants Pendulum Isn’t About Money — It’s About the W’s

December 5, 2025

In grants management, we often talk about the pendulum swinging — from periods of plenty, when federal funding flows freely, to periods of drought, when opportunities dry up and competition tightens.

But the truth is, the grants pendulum doesn’t just swing between abundance and scarcity — it swings between the W’s.

Over time, the federal funding environment shifts focus from the What, to the When, to the Who, to the Why — with the Where and How remaining omnipresent throughout. Understanding which “W” is driving policy at any given time can make the difference between a successful grant strategy and one that misses the mark.

The Pendulum of the W’s

➡️ The George W. Bush Administration — The “What” This era was defined by the “what” of government investment — what programs mattered most. Signature initiatives like No Child Left Behind and the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives focused on program identity: education, faith, and civic service. The emphasis was on defining and funding the “what” — clear, categorical programs that reflected national priorities.

➡️ The Barack Obama Administration — The “When” With the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), timing was everything. The government invested in shovel-ready projects, job creation, and rapid deployment to jumpstart the economy after the Great Recession. The “when” defined the moment — urgency and speed were the measure of success.

➡️ The Joe Biden Administration — The “Who” Fast forward to ARPA, IIJA, and IRA, and the focus shifted squarely to who benefits. Equity, inclusion, and access defined the federal funding conversation. Through initiatives like Justice40 and a renewed emphasis on DEIA, the question became: who are we reaching, serving, and uplifting through these investments?

➡️ The Donald Trump Administration — The “Why” The pendulum has now swung toward the “why.” Why is a project needed? Why should it be funded with federal dollars? And why is it expected to deliver measurable, data-driven results? In his second term, this focus has sharpened even further — with a demand for return on investment, accountability, and proof of necessity becoming the centerpiece of federal financial assistance.

What This Means for Grant Professionals

As grant professionals, we use tools like logic models to structure our project plans — defining the who, what, when, where, and why of our programs. But we rarely talk about how these “W’s” shift in importance depending on the administration in power.

Yet, they should.

Knowing which W matters most should guide both our applications and our post-award management.

• During the application phase, we must emphasize the “W” that carries the most weight with current policymakers and funders.
• During the post-award phase, we must ensure our data collection and performance systems are aligned with that same “W” — tracking the outcomes that decision-makers value most.

Why It Matters Now

The pendulum of the W’s shifts for many reasons — the economy, global tensions, the political climate, or simply the philosophical beliefs of the current administration (think Project 2025).

But regardless of cause, as grant professionals, our job remains the same: to stay informed, understand the impacts, and remain agile enough to pivot as the W’s swing again.

Because the most successful grants managers don’t just chase funding trends — they anticipate the next swing of the pendulum.

Managing grants efficiently, without compromising compliance and integrity, can be a challenging task. If your organization is navigating the complexities of grant management, we can help you enhance oversight, streamline processes, ensure outcomes and reduce the risks of waste, fraud, and abuse. Reach out today to learn how our expertise in grants management can ensure your programs meet their goals, stay compliant, and make the best use of taxpayer dollars. 

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