Applying for funding
If your voluntary / community organization is thinking about applying for funding then here are some basics that need to be put into practice to make you eligible for funding.
Planning
Plan your idea or project that you wish to put into practice thoroughly to give your group the best chance of success. The longer that you spend on the planning the better you will be able to present your idea or project to possible funders.
Constitution
To be eligible for funding your voluntary/community group should have a constitution or at least a set of rules, which set out the organisations aims. A constitution is simply the aims and rules that your group will use. It is a written agreement of what your group is going to do and how it will do it. Potential funders will want to see that your group is democratic and accountable. This involves having a clear procedure by which decisions are made. It will also serve as a reference and help to resolve problems in times of controversy. It is important that the group itself own the constitution and that one person is not left to pull it together. Your constitution should reflect what your group wants to do and therefore will differ from the constitutions of other groups.
If you are considering registering your group as a charity you may wish to follow the Charity Commission's how to prepare a constitution [external link]. By following this report this will make certain that the constitution conforms to charity law.
Accounts
Produce a set of annual accounts to show the revenue and outgoings of the group on an annual basis. Open a separate bank account for your organization and ensure that at least two people are named as signatories to the account. Ensure the bank account is opened in the same name as that identified as the organisations title on the constitution.
Evidence
Ensure that the project has clear aims, and that you can backup these aims up with facts, figures or consultation with local people showing that the project is needed.
The following is a list of general advice you should consider when submitting a funding application:
- it is often a good idea to approach the funder by telephone first to discuss your application and to gauge their interest in your project
- find out if you have to fill in an application form or write a letter
- for the purpose of a letter, write no more than one side of A4
- practice writing your bid on a photocopy of the application form
- make sure the application looks good and is neat and legible
- address your application to the correct person
- select a catchy but appropriate project title
- make sure it says who you are and what you do
- prove there is a concrete need/ demand for the project by using consultation or figures.
- state how much money you need, what you need the money for and why
- be realistic
- ensure your budget adds up and gives a breakdown of costs
- show how you plan to manage /monitor/evaluate the project and what will happen to the project when the money runs out
- enclose appropriate supporting material (such as: accounts, budget, annual report, constitution and leaflets)
- ensure that your application fits within the criteria of the funder
- consider timescales – funders will not provides grants for activities that have already taken place – the quickest response to funding applications is 8 weeks, but many funders take much longer to appraise your application
- get someone not associated with your organisation to read through your application before submission, to ensure a third person can fully understand what the project is aiming to deliver.
- remember to undertake your own funding events so that your organisation does not become over reliant on grant funding, as this can cause future difficulties when grant funding comes to an end.
When you have put this information together and would like to talk through any projects that you may have then please contact eVOLution [external link] or the external funding team and we will assist in searching for funding opportunities or comment on, and help with draft applications.