Fund my project
'Fund My Project' is a series of three x 2 hour action learning workshops where you get under the skin of funders to craft winning grant applications. Its all about getting better at grant writing and fundraising.
Action learning means that you learn by doing not just getting advice. The tips on how grant funding works and how to score bids is applied to real answers so that you can build better, high scoring grant applications.
What you get:
During the course of these workshops you will write a grant application for real.
By the end of the workshops you will be able to:
- Think big
- Plan a project
- Describe what funders want
- Score a funding application
- Find grant funders
- Understand the difference between the key grant questions
- Write and score grant applications
- Use grant criteria to give funders what they want
- Crafting better answers
- Describe the sustainable funding mix
- Identify alternative sources of funding
Session 1 uses a North Star dreaming tool to reveal the project you really want to run, and then puts you thorough your paces to plan the project. We then explore the main types of question in a grant application and why expert and novice fundraisers always fail to answer the question. You will develop a sophisticated understanding of shortlisting and panel assessments through scoring sample applications. To finish off you will be shown how to use an online funding database to choose a grant application form to bring with you to the next session.
Session 2 involves more scoring of grant applications and crafting your own answers to bring in funding for your project. We use the big screen and a wireless keyboard to group edit answers, and learn the tricks of the trade to up your scores. This approach harnesses the expert and peer support in the group. You will learn how to evidence the need for your project and how to cost your project. Homework is to complete the grant application.
Session 3 reviews, scores and develops answers from real grant applications to embed the learning of grant funding tips and good practice. We then explore the sustainable funding mix, types of funding, blended finance, and the expectation for sustainability through moving from asking to earning.
Participants are supported through the sessions to chat in a closed group on social media.
Who is this course suitable for?
This series of three workshops is perfect for community organisations to come together to help each other to up their game in grant writing. We encourage this collaborative approach as it lowers the cost to each organisation and create opportunities for joint funding applications.
Get in touch to discuss how it all works. We can do tailored sessions for your group, or you could bring a number of local community groups together.
