Target your application carefully; otherwise you are wasting your time and theirs. Use EPNAVCO and other advice services to help you identify relevant funders.
Highlight positive things about your organisation
How do you implement equal opportunities? How do you involve your users in the management of your project/organisation? How does your management committee represent the users? Demonstrate that your group is financially sound.
Highlight positive things about your proposal
The project has clear objectives, a thorough and reasonable work plan and sensible exit strategy. Demonstrate experience of managing this kind of work.
Accurate budget
This is essential. Training for Full Cost Recovery is available get in touch.
Composition
Write your proposal with constant reference back to the criteria of the funder. Use language they use, demonstrate at every turn how your proposal will fulfil what they are looking for, and how you are the best group to do this work, how you will provide added value, and high quality work.
Monitoring and evaluation
This is covered in more depth in EPNAVCO download Fundraising guidanceŅMonitoring and evaluation. It is a very important part of your proposal, as this is how you ensure and demonstrate the quality of your work. It will provide the basis of a report, evidence of your organisationÕs effectiveness, and will also prove useful in your next application.
Avoid
Most funders will not give you money to replace core funding or statutory funding. If your group has suffered cuts, it may be necessary to reconsider the structure of your work plan to adapt to the new financial environment. For example, this could mean moving to a service delivery model or a project model.