Does your grant program speak the language of your applicants?

International grant programs want to promote diversity. Yet equal opportunity often fails before it even begins, blocked by the language of the application form.

An experienced project manager in Dakar could have a strong idea that is a perfect fit for an international grant program, only to find the form is in English. She could work her way through it, but some things are bound to get lost in translation.

In those cases, reviewers end up not just assessing ideas, but also language proficiency.

Yet today, we have the technology to design grant programs that are fair and impactful across borders and cultures.

Why language determines equal opportunity

If a grant application is only available in one language, it automatically excludes a portion of potential applicants.

A recent study shows that the writing style of a grant application has a measurable impact on how it is evaluated. People who submit an application in their native language describe their projects more convincingly. The result: funders are able to make better-informed decisions.

There is also an ethical dimension. Those who want to deploy grant funding effectively should ensure that the selection process reflects the best projects, not the best foreign language skills of the applicants.

More on this topic here: Grants without borders: The case for multilingual grant platforms

Multilingual use at Good Grants: What the data show

Demand for multilingual solutions in grant management is growing noticeably. On the Good Grants platform, 15.3% of all client programs already use the multilingual feature, and that number is on the rise. Programs that activate multiple languages work with more than three languages on average.

The five most widely used languages on the platform are: English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Brazilian Portuguese. This distribution reflects the reality of international grant programs, from francophone organisations in West Africa to civil society groups across Latin America and the Arabic-speaking world.

A comprehensive overview of Good Grants’ global reach is available in our 2025 year in review.

What good multilingual support needs to deliver

Not every multilingual solution is the same. As a native German speaker and content manager at Good Grants, I know from first-hand experience: it is not enough to translate content word for word. It needs to make sense for the market it is intended for. Truly well-designed multilingual support therefore operates on several levels:

Localisation instead of mere translation: Language is more than word meaning. Localisation accounts for cultural nuances, different writing directions (such as Arabic) and regional differences.

Consistent user experience across all languages: Applicants should experience the same quality in their language as users working in the platform’s primary language. This includes clear error messages, easy-to-understand guidance text and intuitive navigation.

Culturally appropriate number and currency formats: Currency figures and number formats are not universal. Good Grants now displays amounts in each user’s preferred language format: $1,250.45 in English, 1 250,45 $US in French, ￥1.000 in Japanese. A small detail that prevents misunderstandings in budget submissions.

Collaboration across languages: In many international programs, applicants, reviewers and administrators speak different languages. A good platform allows all parties to work in their own language without information getting lost or processes slowing down.

More on how cultural awareness in grant making protects diversity: How cultural grantmaking can foster and protect diversity across the globe

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Even well-intentioned multilingual grant programs sometimes fall short in practice. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid:

Lack of consistency when updating: Anyone who changes a form in the primary language must ensure that all translations are updated at the same time. Outdated or contradictory versions cause confusion for applicants.

No support for bi-directional text: Languages such as Arabic or Hebrew are written from right to left. Forms that do not support this appear unprofessional and make data entry considerably harder.

Unclear communication about available languages: Applicants should know from the outset in which languages they can submit an application. This sounds obvious, but is frequently overlooked.

Culturally inappropriate content: A direct translation is not always enough. Images, examples and phrasing should be appropriate for all target audiences.

Multilingualism as an investment in impact

Multilingualism is increasingly becoming the standard for international grant programs, not only for reasons of accessibility but because clear communication leads to better decisions.

Organisations that reduce language barriers reach the right people and create fairer selection processes.

With platforms like Good Grants, this step is far more straightforward to implement without adding complexity for teams or applicants.

For a practical guide on how to take your grant program international, visit: The guide to internationalising your grantmaking