Funding
“A good project should always attract funding”
At this point in the process you will have both a clear vision of your project; this should be backed up by survey information, detailed plans and cost estimates for your project, these are the key elements of a funding application.
Whilst you may be able to find some of the funds you need within the community, in order to implement your project you will almost certainly need to raise the rest. By the time you reach this step you may even have organised some fundraising events to start the process off. Fundraising events can be as weird and wacky as you want them to be, this is the time to be really inventive and to use as many skills as you can draw upon from your project group and local community. Fundraising events are important as they can enable lots of people in the community to become involved in the project and unite the community behind a common goal and also enable prospective funding bodies to see that the local community has made a real commitment to project. Unfortunately, on their own events like these are unlikely to raise all of the money that will be needed. It will therefore be necessary to begin seeking advice on and identifying other possible sources of funding.
Finding the Best Grant For Your Project
Grants are an excellent source of funding and it's worth taking the time and making the effort to investigate which grant awarding bodies, trusts or charities would be willing to support your project, as even a small amount of money from a number of different sources could mount up to what you need. Most funding bodies will publish details of what they will and won't fund, so check it out before you apply. That way you can be sure you choose the grant that will work best for you. Remember most grants will require you to meet certain criteria, you will therefore need a clear aim and set of objectives as to what you want to achieve, before you apply.
All grant schemes want to give money - that is what they are there for, but they have their own rules they have to follow. Asking questions and for explanations helps them understand what you want to achieve and how they can help you. If they aren't the right grant scheme for you they may be able to direct you to one that is.
Application Forms
All application forms are different and there is no set formula to filling them in correctly. There are, however, several key pointers (PDF format, 19Kb) that can be applied to most:
- make sure your application is clear and concise. Funders will want to know the basics - Who (wants the money): Why (is this project needed): What (do you want to achieve); Where; How (much money do you want) and When and How (will it be implemented)
- tell them something about the group - how long it's been going; how it is organised; if it has a constitution; if it has a bank account etc.
- tell them about the project - explain what the project wants to achieve and why. Funders will want to feel the project is addressing a real need within the community and that concrete solutions can be achieved.
- tell the funders how your group plans to address the need. Funders will need to know that your group has found the best way of meeting this need and how your group is going to do this.
- tell them about other funding you have secured or are pursuing. This won't put them off but will enable them to see the 'added value' of any grant they give you.
- do include designs, plans, costings and a budget if you have them. If you don't have these then you're not ready to make a funding application.
- Ensure that any budget is:
Clear
Concise
Realistic
Adds-up
Shows other funders
Shows volunteer and 'in kind' contributions (PDF Format, 24Kb) - highlight any environmental and community benefits that will arise from your project.
- If you have any questions about the application form do contact your funder. Most grant bodies have staff whose job is to talk to prospective applicants and advise them.
Funding from Trusts
There are a number of Trusts that provide grant funding for community or environmental projects. There are several grants directories that hold details of these Trusts.
- The Environmental Funding Guide
Published by Directory of Social Change, 1998 - Directory of Grant Making Trusts 2001/2
Published by Directory of Social Change, 2000
Many of these Trusts invite requests for grant funding by letter rather than application form. A Trust's decision to offer you grant aid will depend on the information you have provided and it's important to remember to include all the information in your letter that you would in an application form and to enclose any designs, plans, costings and a budget if you have them.
What To Do If They Say No
Sometimes a funder will refuse your grant application. When this happens don't panic. Discuss the application with the grant body. Try to find out why the application has been refused, most refusal letters will state the reasons, for example:
- it may be that you didn't fully explain something or you missed out a vital part of the application form and that all you need to do is fill in the missing information and reapply;
- it may be that if you tweak some aspect of your project it will help you secure funding - if this is the case you will have to decide whether the element that requires tweaking is acceptable to you and your project group
- your project didn't meet the critieria - if this last reason applies it probably means that this wasn't the correct grant for your project and you should look elsewhere for funding.
- Do listen to what the grant body tells you - it may help you even if you apply to another grant scheme.
Most importantly - keep trying!