Community funding opportunites

This guide contains information and advice on writing funding bids.

Preparing to write your bid 

Before beginning your funding bid, you should:

• Check the deadline and consider whether you will have the timeframe to complete the funding bid. 
• Check the size of the funding award, consider if this will justify the time and cost of making the bid. 
• Check the eligibility requirements to ensure you can apply. 
• Ensure you read the guidelines, application form and small print in full. 
• If you are unsure about any of the above, contact the funder with any questions you may have before you start. 
• Plan who will complete the bid and a timeframe. 

Prepare a project outline

• Clarify the objectives your group or organisation has for this project.
• Next, produce an outline for the project, covering relevant organisational information, project description, the need for and purpose of the project. This outline can be the basis for a series of bids to fund your project.

Prepare a budget

• Your budget should include your planned expenditure and eligible overheads, costed accurately with some evidencable basis. 
• Evidence how your project presents value for money.
• Allow for inflation if the project will be running over several years.
• Check your project’s eligibility for match funding and ‘in kind support’.

Identify potential partners

• Examine any gaps in the skills or expertise, or capacity of the team  working on the project.
• Identify who the partners that can bridge these gaps are, and the specifics of their involvement in the project, such as what they will do and the funding they will bring or require.
• Plan managing the partnership, including contract, monitoring, consultation, partnership, evaluation methods, and any necessary meetings. 

Write the bid

• Give yourself a realistic timeframe for completing the bid, starting as early as possible.  
• Use clear language and a concise writing style. 
• Ensure your bid format and layout follow application guidance, such as using the font specified, for example.
• Check your bid closely against the application criteria. 
• Use the funder’s language, keywords, and tone. 
• Ensure your bid is well presented and easy to read, using pictures and diagrams where possible.
• Highlight key sentences in italics or bold.
• Ensure you address the risks associated with your project. The funder will want to see that you have considered and planned for anything that may go wrong.

Supporting information

Documents or other information may be requested to back up your bid. This may include background or organisational information, such as:

• Local strategies, for example, the The Council's Strategic Plan
• Partners or potential partners
• Insurance
• Information from relevant charities
• Consultation feedback
• Accounts
• Promotional material 
• Annual reports
• A constitution

Final checks

• Ensure you allocate adequate time for final checks. 
• Proofread your bid more than once, preferably this should be carried out by multiple people. 
• Ask for feedback from colleagues and partners who have specialist knowledge, allowing time to act on any agreed changes. 

Common mistakes to avoid

Common mistakes often cause bids to fail, these include: 

• Applications not following guidelines exactly, making them ineligible. 
• Sufficient evidence of need or added value is not provided. 
• The planning or budget is incomplete or does not go into sufficient depth.
• There was insufficient match funding and/or support in kind identified. 
• Standards such as equal opportunities were not met. 
• The project may not be suitable for one-off payment if it's ongoing, and did not provide an exit strategy.