Fundraising & bid writing advice
There are many ingredients to successful fundraising, yet there is no 'identikit' good application. There are however some general lessons that are well worth learning, and the following notes may help as a starting point for anyone about to embark on a fundraising initiative.
There's lots of help out there for finding funding and writing bids -
CVS Arunwide - 01243 840305 or West Sussex County Council External Funding Department on 01243 777988 or funding@westsussex.gov.uk
It makes sense to develop a fundraising strategy for your project/organisation
Some Dos and Don'ts when making an application.....
Do:
- Make it easy for assessors
- Follow the specified criteria
- Use hard evidence of need
- Send all the supporting papers requested
- Keep it simple!
- Be realistic in aims and budgets
- Show the difference your project will make
- Use SMART outputs
- Establish credentials to deliver the project
- Ask someone not connected with the bid to read it. If they understand it, an assessor will...
Don't:
- Start writing before checking your project complies with the criteria - phone to check
- Waffle
- Use jargon and acronyms
- Assume the assessor knows about your work
- Send it before it is complete
Good luck!