Top Ten Tips for Funding Bids
Derbyshire Learning and Development Consortium Workshop
October 20th 2009
The workshop looked at 10 different tips for funding. Each individual was given one tip and was asked to discuss. They were asked if the agreed or disagreed, or if they could give examples of where they had benefitted from using that approach.
Working in larger groups participants were asked to identify which of these were more important in the process and if they felt there was anything missing. The notes below outline some of the comments and issues that arose during the discussion. The tips are placed in order of importance taking the responses from all four groups.
Top Ten Tips
1. Vision
Be clear about what your organisation wants to achieve, and ensure that any funding matches this vision or mission. This will save you time as you will be clear about the kinds of funding that you do not want to apply for as well as those you do. It can help to write a funding strategy to help clarify your funding priorities.
Comments
It’s important to find a balance between flexibility and having a strong idea of what you want to achieve. Sometimes organisations can have a vision or mission that is ‘out of fashion’ with funding bodies. Often trying to find funding can obscure the vision so it’s important not to get sidelined. It’s important to recognise the work with trustees and how sometimes the vision may need to change to respond to changing circumstances. Advocacy work often needs to be done to encourage funding bodies to think about their vision and mission. Its also important to ask if the bid will result in full cost recovery and if not will it take valuable time or resources away from the core vision. Its important to check that getting the funding won’t take away from what you should be doing.
2. Meet the Criteria
Usually funders have specific criteria that you will need to meet. Ensure you read the criteria carefully and check if it matches the objectives of your organisation. Check you can meet the requirements and that you are asking for the right amount of money, in the right geographical area. State clearly how you will meet each element of the criteria.
Comments
Some felt that this was a really key point but that sometimes it is difficult to show how an organisation meets the criteria if they do things in a different way. One of the issues raised was that commissioning bodies can be too specific regarding the criteria and they dictate ‘how’ something should be done. This might not be the ‘best way’ to do something. Some funders are risk averse and may be put off by innovative methods of meeting the criteria; equally some VCS organisations are risk averse especially in the current climate and don’t submit innovative bids. Some organisations forget to spell out how they meet the criteria so it is important to assume the funder knows nothing about your organisation. Its also important to show how you will build up expertise to meet a criteria if there is something you don’t already deliver.
3. Identify Priorities:
Funders will be looking for evidence that you know what the relevant priorities for your area are. Find out about priorities of your Local Strategic Partnership, Local Authority or other strategic bodies. Show how your project will fit into the wider picture.
Comments
Sometimes the priorities of the funder don’t match those of the community. So whilst its important to match priorities to get the funds its also important to balance this out with the needs of the user group.
4. Find partners
Start effective networking with agencies and voluntary and community groups in your area. Let them know what you offer and how you could complement their services. Many funders are now asking for evidence of partnership working with other agencies. This can often be a deciding factor so where possible ensure you can show evidence of your ability to work with other organisations.
Comments
One group regarded this as a ‘no-brainer’, however, as others pointed out, it’s easier in theory than in practice. Once group suggested that the earlier you start the better or easier it is. Networking was seen as a key way to develop partnerships as well as to meet funders.
5. Research
Identify the real needs of your community, or user group. Demonstrate that you have undertaken relevant research and consultation and include surveys or results from focus groups. If the space in the application is limited then quote research documents.
Comments
Most agreed with his but highlighted how difficult it ca be to find research, case studies and examples of best practice. It was felt that infrastructure organisations could share these more. . There is a need for research links and contacts to find others to do research. Local strategic partnerships have been a source on information and statistics but often the focus is on young people not adults. National indicators can be useful in providing evidence for meeting needs. Consultation is essential. Some organisations have been very effective in using their centres and networks for feedback and some are user led organisations and can ask users for evidence of meeting a need. It was noted that there can be a mismatch between the research findings and the funding priorities and research is not always relevant to funding bids. One participant emphasised the importance of using engagement. They have a board of service users (in this case young people) The young people write the bids with support and take part in consultation workshops.
6. Don't Duplicate:
If the service is already funded by another organisation in your area then you could be competing for funds. Ensure that you provide evidence that your project will not duplicate existing provision.
Comments
This can be tricky as it is important to decide from the outset who takes ownership of an area of work. In some cases it may be that whilst the bid might be duplication the organisation can deliver the service better than another organisation. Dividing up the work can help but sometimes its important that a better provider does compete, if this is in the interests of service users. There may times when VCS organisations have to acknowledge that another organisations can ‘do it better’ and there is no point in competing. Its important to have evidence and do research so you can show in your bid that you are aware of what others are doing. There was an example of two similar bids getting funding because both had shown a link to the other organisation in their bid.
7. Be innovative
Whether we agree with it or not funding bodies seem to get tired of old ideas. If you want funding for an ‘old’ problem then show how you will tackle it in a particularly creative or innovative way.
Comments
Sometimes its good to use something that is tried and tested and we know it works. So innovation might mean an established method in a new area or with a new group. Sometimes it’s hard to keep coming up with new ideas when what we need is funding for established and effective existing programmes.
8. Promote Yourself
Ensure you have promotional materials such as leaflets or an annual report. This is a great way to demonstrate your credibility, track record and financial good health. Use case studies to show how effective your work is and quotes from satisfied ‘customers’.
Comments
“Even if you do it you must say it”. The VCS forgets to promote how brilliant it is. However it is difficult to access funding for leaflets and design costs, although some organisations have been able to make use of volunteer talent and sponsored publishing.
9. Build Relationships
If possible build a relationship with the funding body. If they have briefing events or workshops then attend them. Look on the Funding Central website or the funder’s own website for more information. Some funders allow you to discuss a bid before sending it in. Make use of any tools that help build your credibility with that funder.
Comment
Networking was seen as vital, a key way to develop partnerships as well as to meet funders; “We do this all the time, we meet the usual suspects, give out business cards and organisational information” One tip was to find out who holds the purse strings and ensure they know why you exist and the service you offer. Another felt the need to; “drip feed the message at every opportunity”.
10. Critical Friends
Find someone who isn’t so familiar with your work to check if your bid makes sense and is clear to someone who doesn’t know your organisation. Check for jargon, or assumptions about the reader’s knowledge of your work or locality. Proof reading is important. Anything that makes it harder for a funder to understand your application will be a negative when they are choosing where to allocate funds.
Comment
Its good to have someone you can trust to share the bid with and ask for an opinion but its time consuming an the smaller the organising the more likely you are to have to go outside the organisation or to spend money on a consultant to look at the bid. It can be a waste of money if the bid still isn’t successful. “Small orgs spend more money”. When we are competing for funding then it can be hard to find a critical friend you can trust. Bid writing can be isolating when you are on your own. A critical friend can check for woolliness but also make it read well.
What was missing?
Sustainability
Both groups felt it was Important to show how the project will continue afterwards, even if this isn’t asked for. One suggestion was to show progression routes and identify the intended impact and outcomes in the short, medium and long term
Added Value
It was highlighted that often an organisation is undertaking other pieces of work that can complement this funding. If so this should be mentioned. Before writing the bid it may be useful to consider all the projects the organisation is currently running and where they could add value to one another.
Reflection
A couple of participants raised the need for evaluation and that it is essential to have some time to reflect on the success of the bid. If the bid is successful it’s important to know why, if not what could be improved. “Make sure you account for the lessons learned”. If possible get feedback from the funding body and use this in a training session with staff to explore changes and improvements for future funding bids.
Writing the bid
Some felt that this is underestimated in terms of the time it takes. It is important to have correct grammar, spelling and to fit in all the key issues within word limits.
Getting it in on time
Bids are often announced at short notice, or information doesn’t circulate quickly. This leaves people with very short time spans for writing the bids. However most deadlines are immoveable to missing the deadline will mean that your bid is not considered. Practical solutions include having access to ready written paragraphs, statements and research to cut and paste and a checklist for writing bids. Some suggested having funding directories and setting aside time to look for trusts and foundations. It helps to be proactive in searching for funding using local authority systems or on line searches such as funding central.
http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk
Funding Central is a free smart website for all third sector organisations, including community groups, providing access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities, plus a wealth of tools and resources supporting organisations to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to their needs.
