Final november members day 2012

Tips on Applying for Grants

NICVA Members Day

November 2012

Where does your money currently come from?

Restricted Unrestricted Income Generation

Fundraising Targets

• Fundraising Strategy• How much do you need• Set a Target• How do you currently

fundraise?• What is your fundraising

capacity?• Current Income sources

Fundraising Income

“The process of fundraising is the same for all groups but the mechanisms and scale are different”

Tobin Aldrich, Director of Communications and Fundraising at WWF, UK.

Ten Reasons Why Applications Succeed

1. Applicant is eligible – has charitable status.

2. Project is well planned and clearly evidenced.

3. Applicants present their project clearly and concisely on the application form.

4. The applicant demonstrates that they meet the criteria and approaches the appropriate funder.

5. Applications are made with monitoring and evaluation processes in place

“Ten Reasons Why Applications Succeed” (2)

6. The budget is clear and there is convincing financial management procedures.

7. The applicant doesn’t miss the deadline.

8. The applicant “does not plead poverty.”

9. The application enclosures are complete, accurate, up to date and enclosed.

10. The applicant doesn’t ask for too much

Funders comments

• Answer ALL the questions• Write in your own language• Check figures, often don’t add up • Don’t ask for too much• Not continuation funding• Read instructions & guidelines • Consider average grants

Planning Process

• Before – Do your research – also plan to ensure no last minute calamities

• During – attention to detail to ensure a confident application

• After – finishing off well – check details

2013 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

YEAR PLAN 2013

Decision from Ireland Funds

Fundraising Strategy/set targetsFundraising Strategy/set targets

Apply to Awards for AllApply to Awards for All

Apply to Ireland FundsApply to Ireland Funds

Decision from Awards for All

Ireland Funds Project beginsIreland Funds Project begins

Monitoring returns for Ireland FundsMonitoring returns for Ireland Funds

Apply to Lloyds TSB FoundationApply to Lloyds TSB Foundation

Awards for All project beginsAwards for All project begins

Aims and Outcomes

• Aims: your aims are the areas of change you intend to achieve through your project and which stem directly from the needs of your clients.

• Outcomes are all the changes and effects that actually happen as a result of your work, expected or unexpected, welcome or unwelcome. The outcomes you hope to see are all the specific changes that will help you to achieve your aims.

But but but

• We’re too small• We’ve no resources• We don’t have the

right expertise• We don’t have time

“What do you want the grant for?”

• No point applying because there is funding• Half-baked will be seen through and could

damage long term credibility• The funder is expecting a clear description of

exactly what their money will be spent on. • Be specific with what you are asking for• Break down the need and the relevant costs

How do you know the project is needed?

Funders look for clear evidence of need for projects they intend to fund. • Statistics from a recognised source • Short quotes from clients • Surveys, questionnaires or hold public meetings. • Research carried out by other groups or agencies e.g. local Health and Social Services Trust. • Let the funder know you have done your homework!

Issues to research

• Total Grants Budget• Copy of Annual Report/Accounts• Application deadlines, meeting dates• When is the best time to apply• What do trustees particularly look for• How are applications assessed

Deeper Research

• Speak to the Trust• Look into past grants, history of the trust• Speak to organisations who have been

successful• Speak to funding advisers• Investigate, speak to Trustees• Look at accounts/annual report

Completing the Form

• Check Eligibility• Imagine the Funder’s Perspective• Matching Your Aims and Objectives with the

Criteria of the Funder• Be Clear and Concise• Be Honest and Accurate with Information

• Reference documents / enclosures• Recruit helpers, delegate tasks• Schedule time

The Funders Viewpoint

The Funder wants to fund:

The Funder doesn’t want to fund:

Monitoring

Collect information:• Before the project - on the situation now• During and after the project on - what you did (on your activities (outputs) and the changes you brought about (outcomes))

You will instinctively be collecting data, but you need to take time and planning to collect information in an organised and routine manner.

Good monitoring data provides you with a sound basis for judgements (evaluation) and information to give to funders.

Evaluation

Evaluation involves judging the successes and failures of your project or organisation, often based on an analysis of your monitoring information.•Analyse the data and make judgements•During and after the project to judge your success and the impact you had.•Identify what you have learnt, particularly what works and what doesn’t and share findings•Be open and honest in the evaluation process

Grant-making organisations

Grant-making Trusts/Foundations

Estimates

•Around 9,000 Trusts in the UK•The largest 2,500 give £3 billion each year •Make up estimated 10% of voluntary sector income in Northern Ireland

Trusts/Foundations 2011

• Wellcome Trust £642m• Comic Relief (2011) £100m• Leverhulme Trust £53m• Wolfson Foundation £49m• Gatsby Charitable Foundation £45m• Sainsbury Family over £1 billion (18 Trusts)• Garfield Weston Foundation £40.5m• Esmee Fairbairn Foundation £40m• Henry Smith - £28.8m

Henry Smith 2012

• Kids together West Belfast - £6,450• Lisburn Downtown Centre - £9,000• Dunnaman Childrens Centre - £2,000• Link Family and Community Centre - £96,000

• 2012 Total for NI so far – £312,350

NI Charitable Trusts

• Small in comparison to UK. • At least £50m per annum.

– Community Foundation NI – Various – Ulster Garden Villages – Quality of life– Victoria Homes Trust – Homelessness,

drugs– Lloyds TSB Foundation – disadvantaged

communities

Case Study – Ireland Funds

•Estimated €1 million per annum in small grants•Supporting a shared future for N Ireland

–In 2011 - 208 applications in NI–31 Supported = success rate of 15%–Average grant in NI = £4,225–Biggest mistakes - Requests outside guidelines–Incomplete applications/budgets/contacts–Project description – Hitting send!

Common Criteria

• New and innovative methods of tackling problems

• Responses to newly identified needs• A one-off item of equipment or project• Short-term projects• Targeting at most disadvantaged• Activities for which other forms of fundraising

is difficult

Common Exclusions

• Core / on-going running costs• Current salaries / projects• Retrospective costs• Long-term funding• Non-registered charities• Work outside the UK• Large capital projects• Replacing statutory funding / responsibility

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

Other Funders

National Lottery

• 28p of every £1 spent on the lottery goes to good causes in the UK.

National Lottery in NI

• Arts Council of Northern Ireland• Sports Council of Northern Ireland• Heritage Lottery Fund• Big Lottery Fund• NI Screen• Unltd

Government

• Central Government/Agencies– UK Government Departments– ROI Government– NI Executive Departments– Northern Ireland Government

Agencies– Semi-Statutory Bodies

• Local Government• Social Investment Fund

European Union 2007 - 2013

• Peace III – €324m– Positive relations are built at the local level

€140m– The Past is acknowledged €50m– Creating Shared Public Spaces €82m– Key Institutional Capacities are developed for a

shared society €40m– Technical Assistance €12

• Community Initiatives and Budget Lines• Competitiveness and Employment

The Internet

"The Internet is for nerds, it will never make money for my business!”

Social Media

• Must have a presence• Follow important funders/contacts• Apply via Facebook• Vote via Facebook• Let people fundraise for you via social media• Be aware of calls for application• Deadlines published

Strategy/Hit List

• Key Targets - Local Council, Big Lottery Fund, Lloyds TSB Foundation

• Middle Ground - Henry Smith Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Ulster Garden Villages

• Long Shots - Clothworkers Foundation, Bombardier Aerospace Foundation

Recession and other impacts

• Some Trusts income significantly down• Knock on effect less grants and lower

amounts• Sustainability of some groups called into

question• EU Funding has had a detrimental effect on

applications to trusts• Not all bad – some trusts have bucked the

trend

Final Tips

• Properly plan and cost you projects• Thoroughly research funder• Apply in good time• Read and use the guidelines• Fully complete the form with all enclosures• Keep records• Make several applications

Ronseal Effect

Contact Details

James Laverty

NICVA

Tel: 028 9087 7777

[email protected]

www.twitter.com/jameslaverty

www.nicva.org

www.grant-tracker.org