THE BIG STORY

How Government Agencies Can Leverage AI for Grant Application Success

When 63% of grant applications fail due to eligibility issues alone, the public sector needs smarter approaches to secure critical funding.

Here's a sobering statistic: 63% of grant applications to Employment and Social Development Canada in 2022 were deemed ineligible before evaluation even began. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada saw similar patterns, with nearly 40% of applications rejected for administrative or incomplete documentation issues.

For public sector organizations managing tight resources while pursuing essential funding, these aren't just missed opportunities, but capacity constraints that smarter approaches can address.

During Victoria Tech Week, Button's Mike Vesprini led a workshop exploring how AI tools can help government agencies navigate the grant lifecycle more effectively. The key insight? AI doesn't replace grant professionals. It amplifies their effectiveness while maintaining the accountability and oversight requirements central to public sector operations.

Practical applications include analyzing funding body documents to identify unstated priorities, creating comprehensive eligibility checklists that catch gaps before submission, and reframing proposals to match the specific vocabulary and narrative framework of each funder. Tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Perplexity can work in combination to produce stronger results when used strategically.

For technologists and administrative officers alike, this represents an opportunity to build organizational capacity in resource-constrained environments. When more than half of all applications fail before merit assessment, even modest improvements in application quality can significantly increase funding success rates.

Read the full article for specific techniques that workshop participants found most valuable, including how to maintain compliance with AI use policies while maximizing these tools' strategic benefits.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Why AI Can't Build Your Company Culture (And What Actually Can)

While AI automates everything from grant writing to code deployment, there's one thing it fundamentally can't do: build the human connections that make organizations work.

During Victoria Tech Week, Button's Head of HR Charlyne Fothergill led a session exploring why culture-building often takes a back seat to product development – and now, to chasing AI efficiencies. For government agencies and public sector organizations navigating digital transformation, this tension feels particularly acute.

The session broke down how to shape environments where high performers thrive, communication flows clearly, and accountability doesn't feel threatening. A key insight: companies often think they're too small to focus on culture, and there's frequently a gap between how leadership views culture versus how employees actually experience it.

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast," the saying goes. If you're not investing in culture, even the best digital transformation strategy won't deliver.

The good news? Policies and people programs can grow with your organization. Start small and build over time. AI can help draft employee handbooks, analyze feedback patterns, and streamline HR processes. In fact, it's been supporting these functions in various forms for years. But AI carries the same biases humans do, and it can't replace the human judgment needed to build genuine organizational culture.

The session recommended two essential reads: What You Do is Who You Are by Ben Horowitz (see below) and Powerful by Patty McCord. Both books offer frameworks for creating cultures of accountability and responsibility.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Victoria

December 1 | Digital Leadership Day British Columbia: Explore digital transformation strategies and leadership insights for the public sector at this comprehensive one-day event bringing together BC's government technology leaders. | TIME: Full-day event | PLACE: Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria, BC | DETAILS

December 1 & 2 | Government Innovation Week: Join two days of discussions on innovation, digital services, and modernization challenges facing government agencies across British Columbia. | TIME: Two-day event | PLACE: Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria, BC | DETAILS

December 11 | VIATEC AI Meetup: Business Track: Network with Victoria's AI business community and explore practical applications of AI for business growth, strategy, and operations. Free for members, $10 for non-members. | TIME: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM PST | PLACE: Fort Tectoria | DETAILS

Edmonton

December 5 | Friendly Fridays: Attracting Investment – Edmonton: Connect with Alberta's tech community to discuss strategies for attracting investment, building investor relationships, and positioning your organization for funding success. | TIME: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM MST | PLACE: Advanced Technology Centre | DETAILS

Toronto

December 16 | Service Design Drinks: Join Toronto's service design community for casual networking and discussions on design thinking, user experience, and creating better public services. From $20. | TIME: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST | PLACE: See website | DETAILS

Virtual

December 4 | Loudoun, USA to Alberta: Lessons from the World's #1 Largest Data Centre Hub: Learn from the world's largest data centre hub about infrastructure strategies, economic development, and lessons applicable to Alberta's growing tech sector. | TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST | PLACE: Virtual | DETAILS

WHAT WE’RE READING

What You Do Is Who You Are: How To Create Your Business Culture, by Ben Horowitz

Venture capitalist Ben Horowitz (of Andreessen Horowitz fame) tackles a question every government agency and public sector organization faces: how do you create and sustain the culture you want? His answer is direct. Culture isn't the values you list on the wall or what you say in meetings. Who you are is what you do.

Horowitz defines culture as how an organization makes decisions, which are the set of assumptions employees use to resolve everyday problems. Drawing lessons from historical figures like Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture, Genghis Khan, and the Samurai, he connects these examples to modern organizations including Netflix, Amazon, and McDonald's to show how leaders can intentionally shape culture through their actions.

For public sector leaders navigating digital transformation, the book offers practical guidance on establishing clear values, modelling behaviour, maintaining accountability, and building inclusive environments. Horowitz emphasizes that culture isn't something you set once, but a living organism that needs care and feeding. This makes it essential reading for leaders responsible for guiding organizational change while maintaining the accountability structures that define effective operations and growth. Get the book here.

FURTHER READING

Stay on top of vital digital services news and tips by checking out insights from our previous newsletters

BUYING CANADIAN IS NOT ENOUGH: A practical technology roadmap for going from foreign vendor lock-in to harnessing Canadian innovation.

STREAMLINING FEATURE APPROVAL IN GOVERNMENT APPS: The Button secret for streamlining feature approvals for seamless, consistent user experiences across government applications

ESCAPING THE SPREADSHEET NIGHTMARE: A government leader’s guide to making smarter BI decisions.

SUPERCHARGE THE IMPACT OF YOUR DATA INSIGHTS: The uncomfortable truth about how humans actually process information—and what to do about it.

🔥 THE NEWEST HOT BUTTON REPORT: Learn how to rebuild trust with your stakeholders. Download the full, free report now.

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