Cat Miller, WCVA’s Head of Grants & Income, provides WCVA members with some key considerations for grant applications and making the most of the process.
Applying for grants is something that is a big part of many people’s roles within the sector, be it within their paid employment or their roles within voluntary groups they’re a part of.
With funding scarce and highly competitive it’s more important than ever that grant applications clearly tell the funder what you’re looking to fund and what the impact will be for the community that you serve.
Here are some top tips ahead of applying for a grant.
GET AS MUCH BACKGROUND AS YOU CAN
Read all the information available from the funder and if there is opportunity to discuss your proposal before applying, take this up.
If there are briefing sessions, its important to attend these – the sessions should help you determine if it’s a good fit with what you’re looking to get funded and if it’s worth your time applying.
ANSWER EACH PART OF THE QUESTION
After reading the guidance for the grant round, you should have a good idea of what the funder is looking for you to tell them once you start answering the questions in the application.
Ensure that you address all of the guidance points that are alongside each question. More often than not, your answer will be scored against these points and this will be determine where you rank amongst other applications received.
ASK SOMEONE TO REVIEW YOUR APPLICATION
Once you’ve completed your application, before submitting it, get someone to read through it for you. A person that isn’t a specialist in the areas of funding you’re applying for should be able to clearly understand what your ask is and the impact that it will make.
RESPOND QUICKLY TO REQUESTS FOR MORE INFO
Most funders will have staff assess applications and then summarise them for an independent panel to review. The panel meeting date will often be fixed in the grant round’s timeline.
If you are asked for any further clarification from the assessor, ensure you provide the information ahead of the deadline given. This is the assessor’s opportunity to provide the panel with as clear a picture of what you’re requesting as possible.
The assessor will be asking questions to help them make it clear to the panel what your ask is and what it will achieve.
USE IT AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
If you’re unsuccessful, ask for feedback – there may be a fundamental reason your project was not awarded, this can help you decide if you’d like to try again or not.
MAKE USE OF SUPPORT FROM THE FUNDER
If you’re successfully awarded a grant, keep in regular contact with your project contact at the funder. They will be able to support you if things don’t go to plan and help navigate any changes you need to make.
If things aren’t going to plan, speak up, the funder will want to help you to make the best of the money invested. Many funders will consider how your organisation managed a previous project as part of their review of any new applications you may make.
Applying for funding is time consuming so being sure your ask fits with the funding is really important. Funders want to support projects to deliver great things and to do this they need to help enable great applications, so make sure you take up the help available!
FIND OUT MORE
For more help with sustainable funding for your organisation please check out the resources on the Third Sector Support Wales Knowledge Hub.
To search for grants that are relevant to you please visit our funding page or sign up for free to Funding Wales to search for opportunities.