If you’ve ever been told to “expand on the impact” in a grant application, only to feel like you're repeating your research summary with less technical language—you’re not alone.

For many researchers, the impact statement is the most frustrating part of grant writing. Not because you don’t have impact—but because the format forces you to explain it in ways that strip out the nuance, or demand speculative outcomes in concrete terms.

At Straight Up, we help researchers navigate this tension—bridging academic thinking with funder expectations. Here’s how to craft an impact statement that speaks their language without compromising your science.

Understand what impact means to funders
Grant reviewers aren’t asking for impact in the academic sense. They’re looking for measurable, real-world outcomes—how your research will change a system, community, industry or policy. That doesn’t mean you need a commercial spin or immediate application. It means you need to draw a line between your research and something tangible that matters outside your institution.

Link your research to broader goals
Think beyond your niche. Most grants are designed to support national priorities, industry growth, or community wellbeing. If you’re applying to a program that funds research aligned with sovereign capability, health equity, decarbonisation, or regional development—you need to show how your work contributes to that bigger picture.

You don’t need to overstate your claims. Just be clear about the potential, and show you’ve thought about the long-term relevance.

Be specific about who benefits and how
Funders want clarity:

• Who will benefit if this project is successful?
• How will that benefit be realised, and when?
• Is it economic, social, environmental or policy-based?

You’re not expected to predict the future, but the more precise your articulation of outcomes and beneficiaries, the more credible your case becomes.

Balance evidence and vision
Some grants (especially ARC and NHMRC) expect evidence-based impact narratives. Others (like AEA Ignite) allow room for vision and future potential. Knowing which one you’re writing for changes everything.

A well-written impact statement shows you understand:

• What is already known
• What your project will contribute
• Why it matters—beyond academic publications

Avoid vague generalities. Instead, use examples from pilot data, industry feedback, or policy gaps that your research directly addresses.

Use plain English, not simplified science
This is crucial. You don’t need to dumb it down—but you do need to make it readable. Funders often include reviewers from outside your exact field. If your core message is buried in technical language, it won’t land.

We recommend writing your impact statement like you’re talking to an informed policymaker—not a peer reviewer. Strategic, intelligent, clear.

Start early—so it can guide the application
Too many researchers treat the impact statement as a final box to tick. But when you write it early, it sharpens your thinking and helps shape the rest of the proposal—especially your objectives, timeline, communication plan, and partnerships.

How Straight Up can help
We specialise in translating research outcomes into compelling funding narratives. Whether you’re applying for ARC, AEA, NHMRC, or internal university schemes, we help you:

• Frame your impact in terms funders value
• Connect your research to national or sector priorities
• Position your project as a smart, strategic investment

 Our goal is simple: make your impact statement not just clear—but convincing.

Your impact statement isn’t just another section—it’s often the section that tips the decision. Take it seriously, craft it carefully, and don’t let brilliant research fall flat because the outcomes weren’t communicated clearly enough.

👉 Book a consultation and let’s translate your research into a fundable case for impact.