writing grant applications
DESCRIPTION
Applying for a grant? Use this as a guide to avoid your application going into the wastepaper bin.TRANSCRIPT
WRITING GRANT APPLICATIONS
Avoiding the waste paper basketA practical guide
Details Matter
Use the correct name and address of the organisation and indivudual you are applying to
Sign the letter!
Be clear
LASA, LVBS, LABS, GLAAS – Means? State how much money you need Describe the project and it’s cost Give numbers! How many people use
your service? Don’t give a shopping list of needs which
the trust has to choose from. If necessary a phone call would be better.
Emotional Appeals
Tugging at the heartstrings does not make your application more effective. They are not assessed according to the number of tears they produce!
Emergency or urgent appeals may seem powerful, but assessment is more difficult and timetables too tight.
Length
A good proposal can be made in two or at most three sides of A4.
Exciting applications come in short sharp packages.
Too many words and the aims can become unclear.
Guidelines
Read the section which lists what will not be funded
Deadlines are deadlines Putting in applications at the last minute,
take into consideration prior meetings and assessment.
Don’t assume trust won’t fund things! Read the guidelines carefully.
Phrases to Avoid
Unique (how do you know?) We work in a deprived are (this says
nothing about the quality of the charities work)
You will, I’m sure, be familiar with the problems of homelessness. (Lazy, use evidence)
Any help you can give us, however small would be appreciated (would $100 from a company giving out $5 million be really appreciated?)
The final stage
Have someone critically evaluate the application
Which are the most interesting and positive aspects?
Bad wording and missing the closing date? need not apply
Keep the trust informed of any changes after your application; any success with other funders, termination of leases, resignation of directors.
When the application is successful
Do not jeopardise a new relationship Meet the acknowledgement deadline Give accounts and annual reports when
requested Acknowledge a trust’s grant in your
annual report.
Do Know why you are applying Read guidelines Check the name and
address Name of trust corresponds
with the name in the letter Check you are within the
trust’s priorities and area of benefit
Sign the letter Have a system for knowing
who has written to which trusts
Enclose necessary documents
2 sides of A4 Meet the deadline Be specific, how much
money is required? Be specific about your
activities and who uses them
Proof read your application Have a clear organisational
policy on writing to trusts If in doubt, phone the trust
to check
Don’t
Make emotional appeals Ask vaguely for assistance Present shopping lists of needs Write a brief letter referring to other
papers Use initials of organisations Lose the files referring to the applications Write over long applications then
apologise
Example A structure
Total sum required: $6,878 in each of three years
$20,634 in allWhat is the organisation and what does
it do? When was it founded, what does it do, give
numbers! How many people work for it, how much
money does it have and pay out A review of its work, reports of its service
The name of the project to be funded What the money will fund and how this
will develop within the organisation. Why apply to this trust?
What partnerships exist? What other funding has been received? What will happen if the bid for funding is
successful? Will you employ anyone?
How will this benefit the users? What is the problem, how is this
organisation doing anything different? What are the finer details of the
programme?
The costA breakdown of the costs involved
Example B structure
Brief introduction and why you’re writing Who we areLegal structure, aim, current staff, association and affiliation What we doHow long in operation, details of work and users, other activities What our project is
The smaller details – e.g. Medical centre, education centre,What this does for the user: how useful is it? How it is fundedAny other means of funding? Why are you asking this
organisation? How much it will costWhen are you looking to do this by? Enclose plans/bills etc. Thank the organisation