What is the risk of not addressing sustainability in a grant proposal?

Failure to address sustainability in a grant proposal poses a significant risk of losing project continuity after funding ends. Sustainability refers to the project's ability to continue delivering benefits and maintaining its operations once initial funding is exhausted. Without a clear plan on how the project will sustain itself—whether through securing additional funding, community support, or integrating with existing services—there's a high likelihood that the efforts put into the project will not carry forward effectively. This could lead to a discontinuation of services or benefits that were intended to continue for the community or stakeholders involved, ultimately undermining the initial goals of the grant.

Other options, such as potential increased funding, enhanced community engagement, and improved project visibility, often depend on addressing sustainability as a fundamental aspect of successful project implementation and long-term impact. A proposal that clearly outlines a sustainability plan may fare better in securing funding, but not including it primarily leads to the risk of loss of continuity, which is critical to the project's long-term success.