|
Some trusts
use an application form. Others specify in their guidelines what information to
include and how long your application can be. The rest simply ask you to write
with details of your request.
The written
request is usually your only communication with the trust, so it is important to
get it right before posting it.
There are two fundamental ways to improve your grant application:
Trusts are
inundated with applications for support and those that succeed will be the ones
that state the case for support in a way that is easily understood. Overstating
your case will result in disappointment as the trust’s correspondent will be too
busy to bother to read the reams of paper you have sent them.
A good grant
application involves a number of key elements:
-
a good
project
-
a good case
for support
-
the
credibility of your group / organisation
-
the people
involved in the project
-
the interest
of the funder being approached
In order to
make any application clear and concise, you will need to understand your key
selling points.
The most
important of these are:
-
why your work
is important?
-
who benefits
from your work?
-
how many
benefit from your work?
-
what is
unique or different about your work?
Any
application you make should be as brief and to the point as possible. Often only
a summary of your application will be put forward to the committee that makes a
decision.
If your
approach is by letter, it should ideally be not more than two sides of A4.
If you need
to say more than this, prepare a separate covering letter on one side of A4
which summaries the project so that the funder can decide whether to consider
your proposal or not.
If you are in
doubt about any of the information
you are sending, ask yourself the following questions:
In writing a
letter to any potential funder you should imagine you are the person reading
your application and see if you can answer the following questions:
Other ways of
improving your grant application are to ensure that it is targeted to the
interests of the trust you are applying to and to send your application well
before you need the money. Trusts generally make decisions through regular
Trustees’ meetings, which could be as infrequent as once a year, or as frequent
as monthly. Some trusts will want to visit you or telephone to discuss your
application in more detail before putting it to the Trustees.
Taking all of
the above into consideration, not only will you improve your grant applications
but also your chances of success.
back to top
The Trustees’ perspective
When
considering your application, Trustees will be asking themselves some or all of
the following questions:
Grants Policy
-
Does the
application fit within our published policy and guidelines?
-
Are we
particularly interested in the problem area?
-
Is the
approach to the problem the best way of spending our resources?
-
Have we
funded anything similar recently?
-
Is the
project within our geographical area?
-
Do we give
the amount requested?
The Project
-
Will the
project work?
-
Are the outcomes worthwhile and
achievable?
-
Can the
project staff deliver?
-
What are the
long-term goals and are they achievable?
-
Is the
project of purely local significance or could it have a wider benefit?
-
What is
the project’s relationship with clients / community / other
bodies?
-
What will
happen afterwards?
-
What are the
long-term funding implications?
Benefit To Us
If We Fund The Project
-
Is the
project cost-effective? Is it better and / or cheaper than alternatives,
or at least is it comparable?
-
Is the
project well presented and the budget well prepared?
-
Can we
guarantee the organisation will handle the money well?
-
Will the
organisation say thank you and keep in regular contact (have there been any
problems in the past)?
-
Will
there be any publicity / recognition to us?
-
In general,
will the grant be the best use of our present resources?
-
Do we know,
like and trust these people?
|
