It’s always a hot topic – raising funds through grant applications, and at VANEL we’re always available to talk to groups about their approaches to grant applications.
GRANTfinder has just carried out some interesting research across a range of funders, which highlights (in a report) just what the key problems are which potentially prevent groups from accessing grants. And these findings should be something for anyone submitting a grant application to learn from.
The report looked for common factors from funders that influenced whether they awarded or didn’t award grants from their funding pots. The clearest failure was the ineligibility of the applicant for that grant (67% of funders said this was common or very common). Spending time submitting a bid that your group is ineligible for in the first place is highly wasteful all round, and seems an important first lesson.
If the group itself is eligible, apparently many projects or activities are ineligible, and again this is a very high factor in failures to get grants. Poor standards of presentation of applications and not addressing the questions or the needs of the fund were also common.
Learning how to prepare an application better and apply to the correct funds is very important. But some of the factors are often outside our control. Many funders said that over applications to funds was a big reason for rejection. And apparently concerns over accessing match funding or the actual viability of applying organisations are also significant.
So what should you do? The report gives the following recommendations (and you can get a copy of the report yourself here)…
Identify the right funder
– Once the right funder is identified; contact them directly for the most up-to-date guidelines
– Check with the funder if not sure on eligibility
Plan your project
– Ensuring that you put in the right groundwork in terms of preparing for an application. This includes setting objectives early and identifying need through research and statistics; as well as identifying social impact
Ensuring success during the project and beyond
– Develop a good relationship with funding providers through adhering to reporting rules and agreeing any changes in advance
– Meet or exceed outcomes
– Develop roles and responsibilities and work packages
– Ensure high levels of dissemination through press and PR
– Scheduling regular catch ups with any partners
Writing the application
– Understand the funder motivations
– Bring the project alive through stories and photographs
– Only apply to funds for which you and your projects are eligible to apply, reading the guidelines to ensure that you have paid heed to all instructions
– Demonstrate evidence of need
– Ensure an accurate and realistic budget.
These tips come from the funders themselves, so we could all do with paying attention to them. If you would like to talk about making grant applications then please feel free to contact your account manager at VANEL to discuss.