If you see the message “Your project resulted in unusually few matches”, it simply means that your project criteria returned fewer than 20 Matches.
This doesn’t mean anything is wrong; it usually just means your project is set up with very specific criteria, which can limit how many funders or opportunities appear as Matches.
Why this happens
A project may result in unusually few Matches when:
Project criteria are very specific or narrow
Certain applicant types are selected that have limited funding opportunities
A combination of filters—such as location, eligibility, or funding amount—doesn’t align with many opportunities in our database
This message is meant to help ensure you’re seeing as many relevant opportunities as possible.
What you can do right away
When your project results in unusually few Matches, you can edit the project's criteria.
Small changes can often increase your Matches right away. We recommend trying things like:
Broadening project parameters
Reviewing applicant type selections
Adjusting location or funding amount filters
You don’t need to wait for our team to take action — editing your project is often the fastest way to see more Matches.
Learn how to edit your project
Adjusting the criteria for your project looks different depending on the project/matches experience on your account.
Edit projects with keywords (fields of work) (legacy project setup for accounts created pre-Spring Launch 2026)
Edit project match criteria with the Prospecting Assistant (default project setup for accounts created post-Spring Launch 2026)
Refine project matches in the new Discover (beta) (available as an opt-in experience to those on the Discover Plan and higher, select legacy plans, or in a free trial)
What happens next
In addition to any changes you make, our team will also review your project to make sure it’s set up to surface relevant opportunities.
If we identify any helpful tweaks, we’ll apply them and email you with a summary of what we found. This review typically happens within 24 business hours.
Once the review is complete, your project will continue generating Matches as new opportunities are added to the database.
Contact us
Reach out to our friendly support team if you have any questions about your project. Message us when you're logged in, or email us at hello@instrumentl.com.