Preparing for Funds

Key Terms:

• Criteria or policy: An explanation of what the funder will fund.
• Eligibility: Under the funder's rules, the definition of who can apply and what for;
  anything ineligible cannot be funded.
• Assessment: The process by which the funder judges your application.
• Circular: Standard applications where the same letter is sent off to lots of different
  funders, without tailoring it to their interests.

What Groups tell us:

• "I'm confused about how to find out about funding sources; sometimes it seems like a full-time job."
• "I went to a local forum meeting and got several new ideas for where to apply, just from talking to other groups."
• "Our Council for Voluntary Service organised a funding fair. I met 2 different funders who both encouraged us to apply."

What Funders tell us:

• "Every year we get thousands of applications which are ineligible or outside our criteria, so we can't fund them. What a waste of their time and ours!"
• "Have they really researched what we fund? This looks like a circular, and we put those straight in the bin."
• "Those of us with paid staff welcome enquiries from people who are planning to apply - it saves everyone time if we can answer their questions before they complete the application."

Are you ready for funding?

• You can find funding information in lots of places, but a good place to start is your Local Infrastructure Organisation (LIO) (ie Community Action Voluntary Action, Council for Voluntary Service). To contact your local LIO go to the NAVCA website www.navca.org.uk to find their details.
• Your local LIO or Council will be able tell you how you can find out about grants from local trusts, your local council and other local sources. Networks of other organisations are good too - especially for hearing about pots of money with tight deadlines.
• When you find a funding source, check that:
  • You meet the funder's criteria.
  • They can give large enough grants to meet your needs.
  • They will make a decision in time to fit with your timescale.
  • Filling in their paperwork (before applying and after you get the money) won't take more
    time than it's worth - there may be simpler funders available.

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