MGA Funding Guide

8/6/2019 MGA Funding Guide

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How to FundraiseA Guide to Identifying, Applying for and SecuringFunding in the Third Sector

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Introduction

About this Guide

Theprimaryaimofproducingthisguideistosupportnewandexistingcommunity

andvoluntarysectorgroupstosecurefundinggrantstokickstart,sustainorscaleup

theirprojects.Followingthisguideisnotaguaranteeofsuccess,butitwillhelp

thosewhoarewanttodeveloptheirskillsatidentifying,applyingforandsecuring

funding.

Who is this Guide For?

Thisguidehasbeendesignedtoprovideusefulinformationandtipstoanyone

interestedinfundraisinginthethirdsector.Whetheryouareabuddingbut

inexperiencedsocialentrepreneurlookingtostartupanewsocialventure,a

recentlyformedassociationlookingtosustainyourprojects,orawellestablished

organisationwhoislookingtoscaleupandtakethingstothenextlevel,wehopeyouwill

sefulhere.findsomethinginterestinganduUsing this Guide

Thisguideisdesignedtotakeyourightthroughthefundingprocess.Different

groupswillbeatdifferentstages.Therearetherefore4partstotheguide:

2

Part1:TheBasicsIfyouareanewgroup,oran

existinggroupnewtofundraising;

thisisyourstartingpoint.Itwill

introduceyoutofundinggrants

andexplainwhatyouneedin

placetobegintoapplyforfunding

Part3:ApplyingforFundingFromresearch,toapplications,

thissectionwillprovidearangeof

advice

to

maximise

the

quality

of

yourapplication

Part2:PreparationOftenoverlookedthisiskeyto

successfulfundraising.Itwillhelp

youbeclearaboutwhatyouwant

toachieveasagroupandbeclear

aboutwhatfundingisneeded,and

whatitwillachieve

Part4:AftertheDecisionApplyingforfundscanbetheeasy

part,herewewillgivetipsonhow

tobereadyifsuccessfulandhow

torespondifnot


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Contents

art 1:

P The Basics

Funding Options

Introducing Grants

Types of Grants

Basic Requirements

Constitution

Bank Account

What if I have Neither?

art 2:P Preparation

nDeveloping your Visio

undraF ising Strategy

Defining Projects

Identify Funding Requirements

Part 3: Applying For Funding

Research Opportunities

Funding Central

ginesOther Grant Search En

Manual Search

electin itiesS g the Right Opportun

erResearch the Fund

Eligibility Criteria

Type of Funding

e Application Form and Guidance NotesRead th

Timing

s and Standards RequiredCheck Condition

akingM an Application

Tips for Good Applications

Follow the Guidance

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4

Tailor your Application

Be Clear and Use Plain Language

Addresses ItDemonstrate Need and How your Project

Show Your Project is Well PlannedagedShow Your Project is Well Man

e Accurate CostsProvid

Exit Strategy

Common Questions

Describe Your Project

What is the Need You Have Identified?

How Will You Make Sure that as Wide a range of People can

Benefit?

s and Measuring SuccessOutcomes/Output

SMART Measures

Evaluation

art 4:P After the Decision

f you aI re Successful...

Documentation

Systems

A Flying Start

And If You are Not...


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6

Types of Grants

Grantscomeinallshapesandsizes,buttherearethreemaintypesoffunders:

PublicThismightbelocal(forinstancetheCouncil),regional(e.g.theLondonDevelopmentAgency),ornational(e.g.theArtsCouncil),butislikely

tofocusonspecificpriorities

NationalFundraisersAmixtureofmoreopenprogrammes,withsometargeting,thesearepublicfundsdeliveredthroughanindependentbody

(e.g.LotteryorComicRelief)

TrustsandFoundationsWidevarietyoffundingfromdifferentbodies,from

major

corporations

to

family

trusts,

supporting

a

wide

range

of

objectives

Therearetwomaintypesofgrants.Revenuegrantsfundcostssuchaswages,rent,

andsmallitemsofequipment.Capitalfundsbuildingcostsandlargeritemsof

equipment.

Basic Requirements

Eachfunderwillsetouttherequirementsthatgroupsneedtomeettoshowthat

theyhavethecapacitytoreceivefundinganddelivertheproject.Asageneralrule,

thelargerthegrant,themorerequirementswillneedtobemet.Ataminimum,this

illalmostalwaysincludeagroupbeingconstitutedandhavingabankaccount.w

ConstitutionAConstitutionsetsoutprocessesforhowagroupisrun,itsactivities,itsdecision

makingprocessesandanylegaloperation.Itwillsetoutitsgovernancestructure

(suchastheManagementCommittee),theroleswithin,theirresponsibilitiesand

howtheyareappointed.AConstitutionthereforedistinguishesbetweenaninformal

groupandaformalisedgroup.Mostfunderswillnotfundorganisationswithouta

constitutionorsimilargovernancedocumentation(SeeBox1).

BankAccountWhenawardedagrantagroupmusthavethefinancialsystemsandprocessesin

placetouseitandmonitoritsuse.SomeofthiswillbesetoutintheConstitution,

forinstancebysettingoutrolesandresponsibilities.Atminimum,mostfunderswill

expectgroupstohaveabankaccounttoholdandmanageanyfundsreceived.


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Box1:LegalStructures

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CommunityInterestCompanies:CommunityInterestCompanies(CICS)arelimitedcompanies,withspecialadditionalfeatures,createdfortheuseofpeople

whowanttoconductabusinessorotheractivityfor

communitybenefit,andnotpurelyforprivateadvantage.This

isachievedbya"communityinteresttest"and"assetlock",

whichensurethattheCICisestablishedforcommunity

purposesandtheassetsandprofitsarededicatedtothese

purposes.RegistrationofacompanyasaCIChastobe

approvedbytheRegulatorwhoalsohasacontinuing

monitoringandenforcementrole.

Source:http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/

.Unincorporated Association:

Thisisthemostcommonstructureusedbycommunityandvoluntaryorganisations.Itisusuallysuitableforgroupswith

lowincomes,whicharenotemployingstafforacquiring

property.TheCharityCommissionhasinformationonthis

structureintheirpublicationChoosingandPreparinga

GoverningDocument.

Source:http://www.lvsc.org.uk/Templates/information.asp?No

deID=90159

IndustrialandProvidentSocieties:Anindustrialandprovidentsocietyisanorganization

conductinganindustry,businessortrade,eitherasaco

operativeorforthebenefitofthecommunity.AnIPS,must

meetacertaincriteria.Either;

Controlofthesocietymustbeequalandbasedontheoneperson,onevotepriciple.

Conductofbusinessmustbetothemutualbenefitofallmembers

Theaimistoensureacommunityofinterestbasedonsomethingotherthantheamountofcapitalaccrued.

Or:

Thebusinessisrunintheinterestsofthepublicbenefit,and

notthatofitsmembers.Profitsarereinvestedinthe

business.

CompaniesLimitedbyGuarantee:Thesearealternativeformsofcorporation,oftenusedby

NGOs,membershiporganisations,clubs,studentsunionsand

socialenterprises.Therearethreemaincharechteristicsofthesecompanies; Theyhaveademocraticstructure;memberscontrol

thecompanyandelecttheboardofdirectors Memberscannotbenefitfromanyprofitsmade(not

forprofit) ManagementCommitteemember'sliabilityis

limitedtoanominalsum usuallynotmorethan1

whichheorshepaysifthecompanyhasdebtson

windingup

WhatifIhaveneither?Onealternativewouldbetoapproachanotherorganisationthathasthesebasic

requirementsinplace,toactasyourAccountableBody.Ineffect,theywouldbethe

recipientsofthegrantonyourbehalf.Howeverbeawarethatsuchanorganisation

wouldincurcostsandriskinadministeringfundingonyourbehalfandthismustbe

negotiatedandagreedinadvance.
http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.lvsc.org.uk/Templates/information.asp?NodeID=90159http://www.lvsc.org.uk/Templates/information.asp?NodeID=90159http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk/http://www.lvsc.org.uk/Templates/information.asp?NodeID=90159http://www.lvsc.org.uk/Templates/information.asp?NodeID=90159http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asphttp://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/cc22.asp


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Part 2: Preparation

Beforeyoubegintoapplyforgrants,therearetwoareasofpreparationthatwill

helpyoudevelopbetterapplications.Bybeingclearaboutwhatyourgroupistrying

utodo,applicationsforgrantswillbe

ssful.

toachieveandwhatfundingwillenableyo

easierandtheyarelikelytobemoresucce

Developing Your Vision

Beingclearaboutwhatyourgroupdoesandwhatitwantstoachievewillhelpyou

identifytherightfundingopportunitiesandmakeiteasierforfunderstoseehow

youfitwiththeirownobjectives.

Ifyouarenotclearasagroupwhatyourvisionis,takealittletimetodiscussthis

andagreeitcollectively.Inthiswayallmembersshouldbetryingtoachievethe

samething.Thefollowingquestionsmighthelpyoudefinethis:

Whywasthegroupsetup? WhydidIjointhegroup? Whatarewetryingtoachieve? Whatdoesitlooklikeifwearesuccessful?

Trytowritethisinjustoneortwosentences.Forinstance,TheIsleofDogsCycling

Clubexiststogivefamiliestheopportunitytocycletogethersafely.Indoingsowe

seektoimprovefamilylife,reduceobesityandincreaseroadsafety.

Then,thinkaboutwhoyouarelookingtogetinvolvedandwhy.Isthecyclingclub

restrictedtotheIsleofDogs?Perhapstherearehighlevelsofobesity,lowlevelsof

bikeownership,alackofthingsforfamiliestodotogether,orahistoryofroad

accidents.

Next,thinkaboutwhereyouwanttobein1or2yearstime.Ifyouaresuccessful,

whatdoesitlooklike?Againtrytowritethisinasfewsentencesaspossible.For

instance,By2012,theIsleofDogsCyclingClubwillbesupportingatleast20families

tocycletogetheratleasttwiceaweek.Wewillalsoorganiseoneeventayearto

promotecyclingmorewidely.

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Fundraising Strategy

Sonowyouareclearaboutyourvisionandwhatyouwanttoachieveit.Thenext

stepistoidentifyhowandwheregrantfundingcanhelpandplanhowtogetit.

Groupsandorganisationswithfundingstrategiestendtobemoresuccessful

becausetheirapplicationsarebettertargetedandmoreeasilyunderstoodbythe

,fundingstrategiessavetimeandeffort.funder.Inthelongrun

Defining Projects

Grantstendtofundprojects.Projectsareclearlydefinedactivitiesthathavea

beginning,middleandend.Thefirststepthereforeistoturnyourvisionintoa

projectoranumberofprojects.

Forneworsmallergroupsseekingsmalleramountsoffunding,thismightbejust

oneproject.Larger,moreestablishedgroupsseekinglargeramountsoffundingmay

needtobreaktheirvisionupintoseparateprojects.Morefocused,welldefined

fundingapplicationshaveagreaterchanceofbeingsuccessful.

Foreachprojectdefined,setoutthefollowing:

Ashortdescriptionoftheproject Agreebulletpointaimsandobjective Whatkindofchangeistheprojectlookingtomake(outcome) Setoutwhatasuccessfulprojectwilllooklikeandhowyoumeasureit

(output)

Identifywhatyouneedtoundertaketheproject,doyouneedpremises,equipment,staff,training

BoxwithaHBPrelatedexampleofdoin

Identify Funding Requirements

gthis

Foreachidentifieditem,youwillneedtoresearchwhatyouasagroupcanprovide

andwhatcanbeprovidedthroughpartnerorganisations.Themoreyoucanobtain

foryourselves,themorelikelyitistogetfunding.Youwillneedlessmoneyand

fundersoftenfavourgroupswhoshowsuchinitiative.Somefundersalsopreferbids

whereotherorganisationsareinvolvedaspartners.

Atthispoint,youshouldbeclearaboutwhatyouwanttodo,whatsuccesswilllook

like,whatyouneedtodoit,whatyoucangetforyourselves,andcruciallywhatyou

needgrantfundingfor.


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Beclearaboutwhetherthefundingyouneedisforanewproject,ortocontinueand

developanexistingproject.Alsoidentifywhetheryouarelookingforrevenue

fundingorcapitalfunding.


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Part 3: Applying for Funding

Research OpportunitiesNowyouknowwhatfundingisneeded,itistimetoresearchthefunding

opportunitiesavailable.Ifundertakingafundingsearchyourself,thefollowingare

usefulresources.

Funding Central

FundingCentralisafreewebsiteforallthirdsectororganisations,including

communitygroups,providingaccesstothousandsoffundingopportunities,aswell

asawealthofadvice.Youcancreateaprofilethatwillinformyouofopportunities

thatmatchyourcriteriawhentheybecomeavailable(seeBox2).

Box2:CreatingaFundingCentralProfile

Other Grant Search Engines

Gotohttp://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/Ontherighthandsideyouwillseeaninvitationtosignuporlogin.ClickhereThiswilltakeyoutotheRegistrationpageandwillaskyoutoprovidedetailsforyou,yourgroupandwhatyouareseeking

Provideasmuchdetailaspossiblesothatthealertsandopportunitiesprovidedmatchascloselyyourrequirementsaspossible

Itisalsopossibletoundertakeamanualsearch,bygoingtothehomepageandselecting

SEARCH.Youwillthenhavetwooptions.

TheGuidedSearchisdesignedforthosewhoarerelativelynewtofundraisingandwillguideyouthroughbyaskingaseriesofquestionsandofferinghelpandsupportalongthe

way

Oneyouarecomfortablewithsearching,theAdvancedSearchallowsyoutosearchforfundinginamoreflexibleway

Thereareothersearchenginesavailable.Theseinclude:

GrantFinderisasimilartool.Anindividualsubscriptioniscostly,buttheremaybeafeetouseGrantNetAccessPointneartoyouprovidingyouwithfreeaccess.Tofindoutgotohttp://www.grantnet.comandenteryour

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http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/http://www.grantnet.com/http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/http://www.grantnet.com/


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postcode

TheDirectoryofSocialChangehasfoursubscriptionbasedtoolsincluding.trustfunding.org.ukhttp://www .

Manual Search

Notallopportunitiesappearintheusualplaces.Therearealotofothersmaller

trustsandfoundationsgivingfundingtoprojectsthatmaybelesswellknownoronly

operateverylocally.Thebestwaytofindsuchopportunitiesisontheinternet

throughasearchengine.

Forexample,bysimplytypingwordssuchasfundingtrustsukyouwillcomeacrossalistofpotentialfundingstreams.Sometimesbyfollowingonelinkitcanleadtoa

numberofothers.Trysearchingwithothersimilarwordstofindotheropportunities

Selecting the Right Opportunities

Remembergrantfundingiscompetitive.Bythiswemeanthatthereismoredemand

forfundingthanthereisfundingavailable.Furthermore,availablefundingis

decreasing.Between2003/4and2006/7,therewas:

20%fallingrantfundingfrompublicsectorsourcese.g.NationalLottery 12%fallinincomefromTrustsandFoundations.

(source:www.fundingcentral.org.uk)

Currenteconomicconditionsmeanthatthistrendislikelytocontinue.Butdonotlet

thisdauntyou.Insteadmakesureyoumaximiseyourchancesofsuccess.

Ifyouhavefollowedtheprevioussteps,youshouldhavealonglistofopportunities.

Goodapplicationstaketime,soinvestyourtimeinthoseopportunitieswhereyou

aremostlikelytosucceed.Usethefollowingtoruleoutopportunitieslesslikelyto

thosethatare.besuccessfulandprioritise

Research the Funder

Muchinformationwillbeavailableonthewebsite,butyoushouldalsotrytocontact

thembyphone.Inthiswayyoucannotonlyfindoutmoreinformationbutalso

beginbuildingarelationshipwiththefunder.
http://www.trustfunding.org.uk/http://www.trustfunding.org.uk/http://www.trustfunding.org.uk/http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/http://www.fundingcentral.org.uk/http://www.trustfunding.org.uk/


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TopTip:Manyfunderspublishinformationaboutrecentlyfundedprojectsintheiraccountsorwebsites.Findingoutasmuchasyoucanaboutthespecificfunderyouplantoapproach,andtakingeveryopportunitytoensuretheyknowaboutyouwillhelpbuildarelationship.

Makesureyouunderstandwhatthefunderistryingtoachieveandensureyouare

jectwillhelpthemtodothis.confidentthatyourpro

Eligibility Criteria

Eachfunderwillsetoutthecriteriabywhichtheycanjudgewhetheranapplication

willmeettheirbroadaims.Onlyapplyforfundingstreamswhenyoumeetallthese

eligibilitycriteria.Itisawasteoftimeapplyingifyoudontmeettheexactcriteriain

thehopethattheymakeanexception.

Therearefourbasiccriteriatolookoutfor:

Isyourgroupintherightlocation?Somegrantsmayapplyonlytocertainareas

Areyoutherighttypeoforganisation?Grantsmayonlybeprovidedtocertaintypesoforganisationsorincertainfields

Are

you

the

right

size?

Does

the

funder

target

large

or

small

organisations?

Whatistheprojectpurpose?Manygrantsarespecifictocertainactivities,vinghealthsuchasimpro

Type of Funding

Makesurethatthefundingavailablemeetsyourneeds;isitforneworexisting

projects;revenueorcapitalfundingorboth?

Alsobeawarethatmanyfunderswillpaytheirgrantinarrears.Thismeansyoumust

spendandthenevidencethatspendbeforeyouwillreceivethemoney.Makesure

hembeforeapplying.youareawareofthesearrangementsandarehappywitht

Read the Application Form and Guidance Notes

Thisisthebestwaytounderstandwhatisinvolvedinsubmittingabidandhow

uchworkisinvolved.Again,contactthefunderifyouhaveanyquestions.Continue

obuildthatrelationship.

m

t

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Timing

Makesureyouknowwhenapplicationsmustbesubmittedandyouhaveenough

timetoputyourapplicationtogether.Alsocheckhowlongthefundingisforandtodo.whetherthisislongenoughforyoutoachievewhatyouarelooking

Check Conditions and Standards Required if Successful

Theremaybestandardsorconditionsthatfundersexpectyoutosubscribetoifyou

resuccessful.Makesureyouareawareofanyinadvance.a

Making an Application

Younowhaveashortlistofopportunitiesthatmeetyourneeds,andforwhichyou

believeyoucansubmitastrongapplication.Itisnowtimetobeginfillingin

applicationforms.

Fundingapplicationscanbeverydifferentinhowtheyaresetoutandthe

informationtheyrequire.Thereisnoonerightwaytocompletethem butthereare

manywrongways!Belowwesetoutsometipsforgoodapplicationwritingbefore

.lookingatsomecommonquestions

Tips for Good Applications

FollowtheGuidanceFundersproduceguidancetohelpyouwritegoodapplications.Notfollowingthe

guidancerisksmissingoutimportantinformationordoingsomethingwrong(for

instanceusingtoomanywords)whichcandisqualifyyou.

TailoryourApplicationYoualreadyknowyoumeetthecriteria,butthereareothersmallthingsyoucando

tohelpmakesureyourapplicationlookslikeagoodfit.Forinstancetrytousethe

samelanguageandkeywordsandphrasesthatthefunderuses.

BeClearandUsePlainLanguageWhenwritingitiseasytoforgetthatthereaderknowslessaboutyourprojectthan

youdo.Askfriendswithlittleornoknowledgeofyourprojecttoreaddraftsand

checkhowwelltheycanunderstandit.


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DemonstrateNeedandHowyourProjectAddressesitWhensettingoutyourvision(seePart2)youdetailedwhoyouaretargetingand

why.Thisistheneed.Trytodemonstratethisbyseekingoutrelevantstatisticsif

available(seeCommonQuestionsOutcomesbelow).Clearlystatehowyour

projectaddressestheseandhowpeoplewillbenefit.

ShowYourProjectisWellPlannedTakethefunderthroughtheprojectandhowyouaregoingtodoitstepbystep.Let

themseeyouhavethoughtitthrough.Showthatyouknowhowyouwillmeasure

whatyourprojecthasachievedandthedifferenceithasmade.

ShowYourProjectwillbeWellManagedBeclearaboutwhoisresponsibleforthedeliveringthedifferentpartsoftheproject.

Whowilloverseetheprojecttomakesureitisachievingwhatyouhavesetout.How

willyouknowiftheprojectdoesnotseemtobedeliveringasexpectedandwhat

wouldhappeninthatinstance?

ProvideAccurateCostsYouhavealreadyidentifiedwhatyouneedforyourprojectandhaveanideaofcost.

Fortheapplicationthisshouldbeasaccurateaspossible,detailingcostsforeach

item.Funderscanbesuspiciousofroundedupfigures.1002.45psuggestsagreater

levelofresearchthan1,000.

Somefunderswillaskyoutobreakdownthecostsyouprovide.Eveniftheydontit

isgoodpractice,asitwilldemonstratehowyouhaveworkedoutcosts.Forinstance

insteadofprovidinganoverallcostof320forroomhireacrosstheproject,itis

bettertosayRoomHireat16perhourfor20hours=320.

Alsodonotunderestimateoroverestimatecosts.Fundersarereceivinglotsof

applications,manyofwhichmaybeseekingfundingforthesamethings.Itwillsoon

tifcostsseemunrealistic.Thiswillundermineyourbid.becomeapparenExit Strategy

Manyfunderswanttoknowthattheirmoneywillhavealastingimpact,butmost

willnotfundthesameprojectmorethanonce.Itwillbeimportanttothinkin

advanceofhowyouwilltaketheprojectforwardafterfundingfinishes,andifasked

todoso,toclearlystatethisintheapplication.


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Common Questions

Therearequestionsthatarecommonacrossmanyfunders.Theymaybeaskedin

differentways,buttheyareessentiallythesame.Belowwesetoutsomeofthese

andexplainthetypeofinformationthatmightbeincluded.Inallcaseshoweveryou

shouldchecktheapplicationguidancetoensureyouareprovidingtheinformation

required.

DescribeYourProjectUsingplainEnglish,bespecificaboutwhatyouwilldo,howyouwilldoit,howyou

willspendthegrant,andhowyouwillknowifyouaresuccessful.Beconcisewhilst

makingsurethatthefundercaneasilyunderstandwhatyouaretryingtoachieve.

Whatis

the

Need

you

have

Identified,

How

did

you

Identify

it

and

How

will

YourProjectmeetthisNeedTherearemanywaystodemonstrateneedandyoucandothisatanumberof

levels.Officialstatisticsforanareacanprovideanoverviewofneed.

However,needwithincommunitiescanbedemonstratedinmanydifferentways.

Belowwesetoutsomeexamples.Remembertoonlyidentifythoseneedsthatyour

projectwilladdress.Ifyouidentifyaneedthatyourprojectdoesnotaddress,this

willweakenyourapplication.Box3:WaystoDemonstrateLocalNeed Organisingameetingthatanyoneinterestedinyourprojectcancometo. Carryingoutasurveyofpeoplewhouseyourserviceorthosewhomightuseit. Keepingawaitinglistofpeoplewhowanttogetinvolvedinyouractivitiesoruse

yourService.

Findingoutifthereisalackofyourtypeoffacility,serviceoractivitiesinthelocalareaandwhetherpeoplewoulduseitifitwasavailable.

Researchinganystatisticsaboutthepeoplewhowouldbenefitfromyourproject. Findingoutifyourprojectsupportsanylocalornationalstrategies .

Evaluatingpreviousprojectsorseekingfeedbackonapilotproject

Howwillyoumakesurethataswidearangeofpeopleaspossiblecanbenefitfromyourproject?Tellthefunderhowmanypeopleyourprojectwillreachandexplainthedifferent

waysyouwillengagethem,andhowtheywillgetinvolvedorbenefitfromit.Explain

howyourprojecttargetsthosemostinneed,andtakesaccountofdifferent

backgrounds.Ifyouhaveidentifiedanygroupswhocouldbenefitbutarelesslikely

totakepart,explainwhythisisthecaseandwhatyouwilldototackleit.

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Outcomes/OutputsandMeasuringSuccessManyfunderswanttoknowhowyouwillmeasuresuccess.Therearetwobroad

typesofmeasures:

Outcomesarebroadermeasuresofsuccess.Forinstancebypromoting

healthyeatingyouhopetoreducelevelsofobesity(seeUsefulStatistics

above).Theseareusuallyrequestedinbiggerapplicationswheretheproject

cancontributetowiderstrategicobjectives.

Outputsrelatemoredirectlytotheprojectathand.Forinstancetheymight

measurethenumberofpeoplewhotakeuplocalfoodgrowing,orthe

numbersofpeopleattendingkeepfitclasses.Thesearemeasuresthatyou

controldirectlywithintheproject.

SMARTMeasuresSomefunderswillaskyoutomakeanymeasuresSMART.Bythistheymean:

SpecificThattheyaclear,welldefinedandrelevanttotheproject MeasurableYouhaveawaytojudgewhetheryouaresuccessful AchievableYouareclearabouthowtargetswillbeachievable RealisticThetargetscanbeachieved TimespecificYouareclearaboutwhentargetswillbemet

EveniffundersdonotaskformeasurestobeSMART,itisgoodpracticetodosoand

willensureastrongerapplication(seebox4).

Box4:ThedifferencebetweenSMARTandnotSMARToutputsWewilltrain5volunteersoverthecourseoftheyeartobecomequalifiedcyclinginstructors

Thisisspecific.Itclearlysetsoutwhatthetargetis.Itiseasilymeasureablegiventheneed

toqualify.Isitachievableandrealistic?Wewouldneedtolookatthisinthecontextofthe

application,butitwouldnotseemoverlyambitious.Thereisacleartimeframeforthe

outputtobeachieved.ThismeetsallfiveandsoisthereforeaSMARToutput.

WewillrecordattendancetoourwalkingclubbyaweeklyregisterThereisnoindicationofthetargettryingtobeachieved,andnoindicationofwhenthiswill

beachievedby.Thereisnowaytotellwhetherthisisrealistic.Althoughthisismeasurable

andachievable,thisisnotaSMARToutput.

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EvaluationSomefundersaskforyoutoundertakeanevaluationofyourproject.Thisisusually

thecaseforlargergrantsandfunderswantingtodevelopnewwaysofworking.

Anevaluationusuallyhastwoparts.Thefirstpartisquantitativewhichanalyses

performanceagainsttheoutputsandoutcomesyouhavesetout.Thesecondis

qualitativewhichlooksattheexperiencefromthepointofviewofallthoseinvolved

includingyourbeneficiaries,andcanbecollectedthroughsurveysorfocusgroups

forinstance.

Anevaluationwilllookattheevidenceemerging,setoutfindingsaboutthesuccess

oftheprojectintermsofmeetingitsneeds,andpotentiallymakerecommendations

aboutpotentialimprovements.

Ifyouareaskedtoundertakeanevaluation,thinkaboutthefollowing:

1. AretheoutcomesandoutputsIhavesetoutenough?2. Howwillwecollectqualitativeinformation?3. Whowillundertaketheevaluation(itisbetteranexperiencedand

independentorganisationdoesthistoavoidbias)

4. HaveIincludedanycostsinvolvedinthegrantapplication


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Part 4: After the Decision

If you are successfulApplyingforfundingcanseemlikethebeallandendall.Itiseasytoforgetthatitis

onlythebeginning.Thehardworkisstilltocome,namelydeliveringtheproject.

Dontrestonyourlaurels,manyprojectsthatstruggledosobecausetheytaketoo

longtogetgoingandcanneverquitecatchup.Belowaresomeofthethingsyouwill

asearlyaspossible,preferablyduringtheapplicationstage.needtothinkabout

Documentation

Signandreturnanycontractoragreementsprovidedalongwithanypoliciesor

standardsrequiredasaconditionoffunding.Dontdelayhopingthismightbuyyou

thiscangivethefunderearlycauseforconcern.moretime

Systems

Therearetwomainsystemsyouwillneedinplace:

Financestomonitorspendovertimeandtoevidencethatspend. OutputMonitoringtomonitorprogressagainstyourtargetsandto

demonstratethis.Forexamplethiscouldbeattendanceregistersor

participantsmonitoringforms.

Systemscanbesimpleormorecomplicated.Inbothcasesyouwillneedtomake

surethatthesystemsinplacewillprovidethefunderwiththeinformationthey

need.

Ifyouhavedoneyourresearchyouwillbeawarewhetherpaymentofthegrantisin

advanceorinarrears.Youneedtomakesureyouhaveenoughcashflowtospendin

thefirstinstanceshouldpaymentbeinarrears.

Youshouldalsobeginthinkingaboutatevaluationyouhaveagreedtoundertake,

howandwhenthisneedstobedeliveredandwhatyouneedinplacetoensureyou

avealltheinformationneeded.h

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A Flying Start

Sometaskstakelongerthanyoumightimagine.Gettingstaffandrecruiting

olunteersandbeneficiariesarecommoncausesfordelay.Bereadytogoassoonas

ouhaveyourdecisionandusethemostefficientmeansavailable.

v

y

And if you are not

Dontdespair.Anyfundraiserwhotellsyoutheyhaveneverfailedwithafunding

applicationiseitherverylucky,isnottellingyouthewholetruthornotreallydone

verymany.Ithappenstousall.

Theimportantpartistolearnwhyandmakesurethenextapplicationisevenbetter.

Contactthefunderandgetfeedbackonwheretheapplicationwasweak.Dontbe

defensive.Insteadbeopenandtrytogetasmuchinformationasyoucan.Usethe

opportunitytobuildthatrelationshipevenmorefornexttime.

MGA Funding Guide

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Transcript of MGA Funding Guide