Funding & Grants Workshop - Kerry McDonald

StreetGames Fundraising Workshop Warwick Conference 2011 :

1 StreetGames Fundraising Workshop Warwick Conference 2011 Trainer:Kerry McDonald, StreetGames

Outcomes Of The Workshop:

2 Outcomes Of The Workshop 2 Understand the fundraising landscape at present Recognise the differences between a grant, commission and commercial contracts Understand the differences between compiling small and large grant bids Understand how to compile and write effective bids in relation to small grants predominately Understand the various sources of grants

THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE :

3 THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE Specialist, competitive Large grants very difficult to secure Commissioning and contracting is out there Difference between a grant, a commission, and a commercial contract

CHALLENGES IN SECURING FUNDING:

4 CHALLENGES IN SECURING FUNDING Group exercise ‘Share your last fundraising experience and write down the key issues you faced in writing a strong application’

Small Grants:

Small Grants STANDARD REQUIRMENTS Constitution ( a good one !!) Set of accounts ( or income/expenditure forecast) Copy of recent bank statement Independent referee

Small Grants :

Small Grants TIPS AND TACTICS Write in their language!! Question 5 –Awards For All- What activities will take place if you receive a grant? ANSWER A- Buy footballs, bibs, cones. Hire a pitch. Go on the Man Utd tour. Do some cricket. ANSWER B Attract 20 girls aged 11 to 15 for a new weekly football session Qualify 5 new level 1 football coaches and 3 new level 1 cricket coaches, mainly from existing parents Qualify 20 young people as young sports leaders Organise kwik cricket festival to attract new partipants aged 8 to 12 Provide information on youth lifestyle issues in partnership with youth service

Small Grants :

Small Grants TIPS AND TACTICS !! 1) Prove It ! – any sort of proof that there is a need for the new activity is better than just your word. Evidence of a public meeting, a survey, waiting lists are all simple but effective. 2) Don’t Write It Alone – even if you think you are JK Rowling, your application will be much, much better if at least 3 other people read it and comment on it. It has to be clearly understood by everyone who might read it.

Small Grants:

Small Grants TIPS AND TACTICS !! 3) Always CLEAR and CONCISE – waffle is a disaster. You have less than one minute to impress the officer or Panel member reading your application. Give your project a clear and descriptive title. For example, don’t call it a ‘Youth Project’, call it a ‘Youth Mentoring Project’. Check to make sure you have told them clearly who you are, what you do, what your project is, how much it will cost, and why they should give you a grant.

Small Grants:

Small Grants TIPS AND TACTICS !! 4) Show CREDIBILITY. Prove that your organisation is well run. - Have you got any quality assurance awards (eg PQASSO). - Have you receive grants before. Who from? When? - Do people who run your organisation have impressive qualifications (eg Solicitor, Accountant, Justice of Peace, ) 5) Use BULLET POINTS – they are not classic English grammar, but they are very effective at giving a clear, concise, and professional message

Small Grants:

Small Grants TIPS AND TACTICS !! 6) Get QUOTES or ESTIMATES. It is no good just saying that some new music equipment costs £3000. How do they know that? It significantly improves your chances of getting a grant if you go to the trouble of getting quotes or estimates. 7) Always mention ‘MONITORING’ and ‘EVALUATION’. Always!! They need to know there is a checking system to stop things going wrong. Use phrases like ‘rigorous monitoring’ and ‘systematic evaluation’.

Small Grants:

Small Grants TIPS AND TACTICS !! 8) Always mention ‘SUSTAINABILITY’. They want to feel their money will have a lasting impact. Two good points to bring up is that their grant will secure 1) new partnerships (makes you stronger for the future), and 2) new training (you are stronger because your people are more competent).

Small Grants:

Small Grants WHAT THEY WON’T FUND – DON’T MESS UP!! Already have a small grant Current running costs Activity for an individual (or a family) Religious activities Political activities Profit making activities (profits given to directors or management committee members) Statutory activities Money for further distribution (broker) Endowments Loans 2nd hand vehicles

STREETGAMES GRANTS FACTSHEET:

13 STREETGAMES GRANTS FACTSHEET Explore sources of grants ‘Prioritise which grants are most suitable for you from the sources of grants’ ‘Which grants are missing?’

Small Grants:

14 Small Grants USE INTERNET AS WELL Over 6000 sources of grants from public money and charitable trusts

Large Grants:

15 Large Grants A specialist dedicated team taking at least six weeks to compile.

GOLDEN RULES:

16 GOLDEN RULES Exceed funders requirements – please don't rush it (a small grant application will take 3 to 5 days) Develop a project to meet criteria – don’t force an existing project in !! ‘Lead with Need’ – meet funders needs (as well as community needs and beneficiary needs) Evidence, evidence, evidence !! (track record) Mix technical answers with good practice

GOLDEN RULES:

17 GOLDEN RULES Follow instructions very carefully – complete all sections, answer specifically, stick to word limits Do you have a dedicated bid writer?

Outcomes Of The Workshop:

18 Outcomes Of The Workshop 18 What action will you commit to as a result of attending this workshop?