In recent years here in the UK, we’ve dealt with a pandemic, the biggest rise in inflation since the 1980's, a cost-of-living crisis, the increasing impact of climate change and political turmoil. These events have all had a big impact on grant distribution, how charities interact with grant givers and rapidly evolving expectations and demands. 

One direct effect of this turmoil is an increase in demand for funding, often leaving grant makers inundated with applications and creating major competition for limited resources. 

So, for those seeking grant funding, understanding how to put together a successful application that will increase your chances of being awarded the money you need is more important than ever. You must be able to clearly define your organisations needs, how the grant will help, what benefits it will help deliver and for whom. 

Without these aspects, your chances of success will be significantly diminished. 

Our grants experts in our community team have helped put together some steps that we view as essential for success. 

Enclose any additional documents as required and on time.

Take a good look at the requirements and be sure to follow them to the letter. Bank statements, copies of the annual report, policies and constitutions – send what is needed the first time in the format that is requested, stick to the word count. And always be mindful of the deadline. Applying at the last minute will increase the likelihood of mistakes.

Contact the funder.

Many, though not all funders, welcome pre-submission contact, and sometimes have specialised staff that can help answer questions. It also might do no harm to be at least a little “warm” in the funders minds when the application arrives

Keep focussed.

Application forms can appear bewildering when first approached, especially if you are unfamiliar with this kind of process. But take your time and keep focussed. Be mindful of the - What? Who? Why? Where? How? When? -  as you write your application. The funder should feel clear and confident on where their money will be going and the good it will be doing.

Keep it brief.

Avoid a lengthy backstory to your project, or long explanation or the history of your charity or organisation. Bullet points are your friends, as are brief punchy facts and examples.  Avoid jargon, slang or acronyms. 

Do your research.

Take a good look at the other types of charities/projects/organisations that the grant has previously funded and study the criteria and guidelines closely. If they look very different to yours, and the criteria hasn’t changed, you might well be wasting your time.

Numbers are key.

It’s so easy to make mistakes in this area. Break down your numbers clearly and concisely - explain what they mean and where they come from. Don’t guess or be too approximate. Get proper quotations for external work or required resources wherever possible - ensure that all necessary costs have been identified and accurately estimated.

Be in the know. 

The grant giver will be experts in their sector, and you need to be too. Do any organisations in your area do similar work? Is there anyone you could partner with? Are there any new rules, laws, or policy developments coming up that might impact your work? Show you are conscientious and engaged and it’ll boost your chances of success greatly.

Check and check again 

Once the application is finished, leave it, and then review it the following day. It is particularly important to double check all your numbers. Keep consistent in your language. And this is super important - have someone else check your application. Fresh eyes always spot errors, and what might be clear to you might be bewildering to someone else. Listen to what your reviewer says and act upon it. 

Show what you have already achieved.

Use your existing online fundraising as evidence of that you have diversified income streams and a current healthy, sustainable funding model, as well as to show that your community values your work. And don’t forget about utilising match funding grants through your online fundraising – use one funding activity to leverage another!

Grant application isn't easy, so please read this page to learn what are the typical mistakes people make with their applications and insights into why my application was unsuccessful. 

Keep checking out social media and our campaigns page for all the latest grants opportunities and contact us for more information.