Funding guidance

It is important to do research to find out what funding is available, who the funders are and what they are interested in supporting. The goal of your research is to find out those few funders whose interests are in line with your club and what you are wanting to do with the money. Sending the same requests to a wide group of funders who all want to fund different things is ineffective. Funding streams are often changed or updated and some may be offered for the short-term only; it is important to check what funding bodies are offering at any particular time and plan accordingly.

You should also make sure you are eligible for their funding. Some funds are only open to clubs of a certain size or type, or will only fund very specific things. Your funding research principle should be: if you do not qualify, do not apply.

Think about how much money you will need and look for funds which are suitable based on the amount. Involve your treasurer, or someone who is comfortable with the numbers, in your financial planning. It’s important to be as accurate as you can be with your costings. Any funder wants your project to succeed and so are looking for a realistic budget that has been properly costed. Remember, something that is value for money is not always the same thing as the cheapest. You will often have to provide a budget with your application. 

Remember, you don't have to do it all yourself. It is a very good idea to involve more than one person in planning your project and writing your funding application. Different members of your committee or volunteers will have different skills and experience that they can bring to the process. Ask them for support. It is also worthwhile to get someone from outside your club who is willing to review your application. They are more likely to pick up if you have missed any obvious information and tell you if you need to provide more detail in any sections.