diff --git a/hypha/apply/dashboard/services.py b/hypha/apply/dashboard/services.py
index 7f9ad5bfca..72cb70573e 100644
--- a/hypha/apply/dashboard/services.py
+++ b/hypha/apply/dashboard/services.py
@@ -6,14 +6,15 @@
 def get_paf_for_review(user, is_paf_approval_sequential):
     """Return a list of paf approvals ready for user's review"""
 
+    user_groups = list(user.groups.all())
     paf_approvals = PAFApprovals.objects.annotate(
         roles_count=Count("paf_reviewer_role__user_roles")
     ).filter(
-        roles_count=len(list(user.groups.all())),
+        roles_count=len(user_groups),
         approved=False,
     )
 
-    for role in user.groups.all():
+    for role in user_groups:
         paf_approvals = paf_approvals.filter(paf_reviewer_role__user_roles__id=role.id)
 
     if is_paf_approval_sequential:
diff --git a/hypha/apply/dashboard/views.py b/hypha/apply/dashboard/views.py
index da9638a91c..851ccaa70f 100644
--- a/hypha/apply/dashboard/views.py
+++ b/hypha/apply/dashboard/views.py
@@ -144,9 +144,13 @@ def awaiting_reviews(self, submissions):
         }
 
     def active_invoices(self):
-        invoices = Invoice.objects.filter(
-            project__lead=self.request.user,
-        ).in_progress()
+        invoices = (
+            Invoice.objects.filter(
+                project__lead=self.request.user,
+            )
+            .in_progress()
+            .select_related("project", "by")
+        )
 
         return {
             "count": invoices.count(),
@@ -160,13 +164,18 @@ def projects(self):
             data=self.request.GET or None, request=self.request, queryset=projects
         )
 
+        filtered_qs = filterset.qs
+
         limit = 10
+        limited_qs = list(filtered_qs[: limit + 1])
+        has_more = len(limited_qs) > limit
+        table_data = limited_qs[:limit]
 
         return {
-            "count": projects.count(),
+            "count": filtered_qs.count(),
             "filterset": filterset,
-            "table": ProjectsDashboardTable(data=projects[:limit], prefix="project-"),
-            "display_more": projects.count() > limit,
+            "table": ProjectsDashboardTable(data=table_data, prefix="project-"),
+            "display_more": has_more,
             "url": reverse("apply:projects:all"),
         }
 
@@ -492,6 +501,7 @@ def active_invoices(self):
         )
         return {"count": active_invoices.count(), "data": active_invoices}
 
+    # todo: if we don't need, we can remove these historical tables
     def historical_project_data(self):
         historical_projects = (
             Project.objects.filter(user=self.request.user).complete().for_table()
diff --git a/hypha/apply/projects/models/payment.py b/hypha/apply/projects/models/payment.py
index 910090ade1..d306fb7b21 100644
--- a/hypha/apply/projects/models/payment.py
+++ b/hypha/apply/projects/models/payment.py
@@ -69,16 +69,18 @@ def in_progress(self):
         return self.exclude(status__in=[DECLINED, PAID])
 
     def approved_by_staff(self):
-        return self.filter(status=APPROVED_BY_STAFF)
+        return self.filter(status=APPROVED_BY_STAFF).select_related("project", "by")
 
     def approved_by_finance_1(self):
-        return self.filter(status=APPROVED_BY_FINANCE)
+        return self.filter(status=APPROVED_BY_FINANCE).select_related("project", "by")
 
     def waiting_to_convert(self):
-        return self.filter(status=APPROVED_BY_FINANCE)
+        return self.filter(status=APPROVED_BY_FINANCE).select_related("project", "by")
 
     def for_finance_1(self):
-        return self.filter(status__in=[APPROVED_BY_STAFF, APPROVED_BY_FINANCE])
+        return self.filter(
+            status__in=[APPROVED_BY_STAFF, APPROVED_BY_FINANCE]
+        ).select_related("project", "by")
 
     def rejected(self):
         return self.filter(status=DECLINED).order_by("-requested_at")
diff --git a/hypha/apply/projects/models/project.py b/hypha/apply/projects/models/project.py
index f6689adc26..afc6033c0f 100644
--- a/hypha/apply/projects/models/project.py
+++ b/hypha/apply/projects/models/project.py
@@ -173,8 +173,10 @@ def for_table(self):
             .with_outstanding_reports()
             .select_related(
                 "report_config",
+                "submission",
                 "submission__page",
                 "lead",
+                "user",
             )
         )
 
diff --git a/hypha/apply/todo/views.py b/hypha/apply/todo/views.py
index be8640c78c..f3deccd4b1 100644
--- a/hypha/apply/todo/views.py
+++ b/hypha/apply/todo/views.py
@@ -186,13 +186,20 @@ def remove_tasks_of_related_obj(related_obj):
 
 
 def get_tasks_for_user(user):
-    user_tasks = Task.objects.filter(user=user).annotate(
-        group_count=Count("user_group")
+    user_groups = list(user.groups.all())
+
+    user_tasks = (
+        Task.objects.filter(user=user)
+        .annotate(group_count=Count("user_group"))
+        .select_related("user", "related_content_type")
     )
-    user_group_tasks = Task.objects.annotate(group_count=Count("user_group")).filter(
-        group_count=len(user.groups.all())
+    user_group_tasks = (
+        Task.objects.annotate(group_count=Count("user_group"))
+        .filter(group_count=len(user_groups))
+        .select_related("user", "related_content_type")
+        .prefetch_related("user_group")
     )
-    for group in user.groups.all():
+    for group in user_groups:
         user_group_tasks = user_group_tasks.filter(user_group__id=group.id)
 
     return user_tasks.union(user_group_tasks).order_by("-created_at")