Fund raising for Youth Projects
Does your group need a grant?
Where can you find money to fund your
project?
Here are some organisations you can ask. Their
details are in the contacts list:-
Local Council for Voluntary Services
– CVS
Derbyshire Rural Community Council
Local Network Fund
Youth Music
Youth Service
National Lottery
Local District Council
Awards for All
Local Lions Club
Sport England
Rotary Club
Crime and Disorder Grants (Police)
Countryside Agency
Arts Organisations
Lloyds TSB Foundation
Funderfinder http://www.funderfinder.org.uk
UK Fundraising http://www.fundraising.co.uk
Funders on-line http://www.fundersonline.org
Most funders will require you to be a constituted group
and have a bank account; by using the following guidelines
your application will stand a better chance of success.
WHAT ARE MOST FUNDING BODIES LOOKING
FOR IN ASSESSING AN APPLICATION?
Most funders will look favourably upon an
application that is:-
- from an eligible group (that your group is of the
type that the funder wishes to support)
- seeking support for work that addresses their own
priority areas (geographic area/issue based/priority
groups)
- clear and concise (that you have explained what you
want to do, why you want to do it, where, when how and
with whom it will happen)
- aiming to meet a clearly identified need (that you
have done some consultation and research)
- realistic about the outcomes and outputs (your group
should describe the outcomes of the project, i.e. the
short and long term benefits and the outputs, i.e. the
quantifiable things that will be achieved)
- appropriate in scale (the ambitions of the project
are achievable by your group)
- submitted by a well organised and accountable group
(having a committee, regular meetings, minutes and bank
account)
- financially realistic (that the project is properly
costed and that the budget is accurate and appropriate
to the size of your organisation)
- from a group who are able to attract other funding
or support (that you can raise funds from other sources,
offer help in kind and/or that you are doing your own
fund-raising, e.g. raffles, etc.)
- sustainable ( you are able to show that when their
funding ceases the project will not collapse)
- from a group who can demonstrate they are able to
monitor and evaluate progress (that your group have
a means of checking progress and at the end can assess
what has been achieved)
What else will help you make a good quality application
- Start out on solid ground – make sure you have
done as much consultation, research and partnership building
as possible. Be clear of the need and where possible back
this up with figures or other evidence. Talk to others
who may be interested in your project, i.e. the District
Council – they will support your proposals.
- Most funding bodies will not consider applications
for work or services which should be the responsibility
of a statutory authority, i.e. things that come within
the day to day work of the Health Authority or County
Council, etc. Talk to the appropriate body to ensure that
your proposals are outside their remit.
- Make sure your application looks neat and legible 0
do not make it look too ‘glossy.’
- Address your application to the correct person and
use their job title.
- Be clear and concise – say what is necessary
without making it too long.
- If the form does not give you scope to describe the
essential features of your project, then attach additional
notes. Indicate on the form that additional information
is supplied. If the funder prohibits the inclusion of
extra information then you should comply with their wishes.
- Try to establish your credibility as an organisation.
Perhaps include mini biographies of your management committee
and describe the skills and past experience they have
that are relevant to the application, e.g. the treasurer
manages his/her own business, etc. Outline previous successful
projects.
- Enclose appropriate supporting material, accounts,
budgets, annual report, leaflets, press releases, maps,
designs, illustrations, etc.
- Be flexible – adjust your plans to fit in with
a funder’s procedures if this gives you a better
chance of success, e.g. set your start date to fall after
their trustees’ decision making meeting. However,
do be sure that you can actually comply with their terms
and conditions without compromising your project.
- Be creative – even if your project as a whole
does not seem to fit in with the funder’s priorities,
examine its constituent parts. Is there an aspect of it
which could fit in? Break your project down and home in
on the aspect which relates to the funder’s objectives.
- Use their terms – do not try and use a form of
English that is alien to you but where appropriate (i.e.
in line with your own objectives) pick up on some of the
phrases from funder’s criteria. This will make it
more difficult for them to turn you down.
- Make contact – if you are not sure if your project
fits the criteria, ask for advice before you apply. Most
grant making bodies don’t mind a quick telephone
call as it may often save them and you time later. Remember
that some Trusts are reluctant to enter any discussion.
- Don’t assume that the funders are either ‘experts’
or idiots.’
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Decide what you want to do and how and then
decide where to get money from.
1. Project Description
* The funder knows nothing about your application
– they will only know what you tell them.
* Never rely on the application form –
the first thing to do is to write a full project business
plan and this should support every application.
2. Establishing the Need
* How do you know there is a need for your project?
* What supporting evidence do you have?
* What extra evidence can you collect and how?
3. Giving the Funder Value for Money
* You may think you have the best project in
the world, but
* Are you giving the funders what they want
to pay for?
4. Are you Eligible?
Most funders will only give to certain kinds
or organisations. Don’t waste time on an application
if you are not eligible – find out first.
* Are you a group or just an individual?
* Do you have any rules?
* Do you have a bank account?
* Are you in the right area?
5. What Support do you Have?
* What support can you get for your project
from organisations who are not funders? Make sure they are
relevant.
6. Can you Manage the Project?
* Raising funds and managing projects are two
different things. Do you have the right people and mechanism
in place to manage the project properly? You will have to
show that you are responsible enough to receive the money.
7. Outcomes
* What benefits will the project have on the
area?
* Short term and long term benefits?
8. Outputs
* What things will you do? These must be quantified.
9. Monitoring
* How will you ensure that the project is achieving
what was intended as it progresses?
* At the end of the project how will you know
you have done what you set out to do?
10. Exit Strategy
* How can you show that at the end of the funding
period the project will not simply collapse?
Godfrey Claff
Peak District Rural Development Partnership
Heritage Projects
Any idea you have to do with the environment
of your community may be eligible for a heritage grant.
These grants do not just apply to the physical
environment but also culture and traditions too.
A heritage project can have an archaeological,
natural, built, industrial or cultural focus to it, or include
a number of these aspects. Projects should celebrate the past,
inform the present and encourage thought and action for the
future.
So, if you have an idea that reflects what local
people value most about their heritage, will be of public
benefit now and in the future and raises awareness and enjoyment
of heritage, there may be a grant here for you.
Projects that involve young people and heritage
are looked on favourable as this promotes its survival and
raises awareness for successive generations.
For more information contact:-
Local Heritage initiative 0870 900 0401
kwww.lhi.org.uk
Groundworks East Midlands 0191 384 2233
Young Roots East Midlands 0115 934 9050
general.enquiries@nof.org.uk
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