Voluntary organisations
If you are part of a voluntary or community based organisation
you may be eligible to apply for a grant or a funding
opportunity.
Where can you find out more?
You can apply for grants at a local, national and European
level. If you are unclear of what to look for you can do a basic
search on our GRANTNet website
page. GRANTNet allows you to enter information about the
project that you are seeking funding. Brief details of suggested
sources of funding are then displayed and full details can be
requested by email.
Central government funding
Visit the government
funding website, which provides access to government grants for
the voluntary and community sector.
It is run by the Directory of Social Change who also publish a
hardcopy version.
The Directory of Social Change is a leading, independent source
of funding information for voluntary and community organisations.
They publish comprehensive details of funders, including charitable
trusts and foundations.
Other funding
The Big Lottery
Fund also provides funding for voluntary organisations and
charities, through the national lottery. Small to medium community
transformation grants are available at a local level through to
national projects.
The Allerdale Community Fund,
established by Allerdale Borough Council, is an innovative way of
channelling funds into community projects.
How to apply
If you find a grant or funding opportunity suitable for your
organisation you will need to submit an application. When reviewing
any application the funding body will need supporting evidence of
how you propose to invest your grant. As an organisation, you
should plan your application carefully and make sure you have
sufficient resources available to provide a strong case.
When seeking funding, organisations are much more likely to be
successful if they receive support from people who are experienced
in the grant application process. You should always seek
expert advice if you are unsure about any aspect of your
application as this may greatly reduce your chance of a successful
bid.
The following is a list of general advice you should consider
when submitting a funding application:
- find out if you have to fill in an application form or write a
letter
- for the purpose of a letter write no more than one side of
A4
- practice writing your bid on a photocopy of the application
form
- make sure the application looks good and is neat and
legible
- address your application to the correct person
- select a catchy but appropriate project title
- do not assume the funders are either "experts" or "idiots"
- make sure it says who you are and what you do
- establish your credibility as an organisation/partnership
- prove there is a concrete need/ demand for the project
- state how much money you need, what you need the money for and
why
- be realistic - do not necessarily bid for the maximum grant
available
- ensure your budget adds up and is realistic
- show enthusiasm for the project, but be objective
- show how you plan to monitor/evaluate the project and what will
happen to the project when the money runs out
- enclose appropriate supporting material - accounts, budget,
annual report, constitution, leaflets etc
Allerdale Borough Council
