With somewhere in the region of 5,000 funders in the UK it comes as no surprise that submitting grant applications remains high up on the ‘To Do’ list for many school leaders this year. Infrastructure improvements and investment in school play areas, for example, often comes at least partly, in the form of grant funding.
Unsurprisingly, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is ‘How do I write a successful grant application for my school?’. So, here are my top 5 tips to give your school the best chance of success.
Do your Homework
Preparation is key. Match your project with appropriate grant funders – they are always very clear about their eligibility criteria and will not offer funds any projects that doesn’t clear meet their stated aims. Use grant tracker databases such as those offered by FundEd, Pebble and Grants On Line, for example. Subscription fees are minimal (less than £100pa) so they are certainly worth the investment.
Prioritise and Plan
You may have a ‘wish list’ but it’s really important to focus on just one or two initiatives at a time. Donor fatigue and confusion will result if you launch too many fundraising campaigns. Decide what will have the greatest impact and balance that against the realistic likelihood of success. Plan your schedule, allow time to gather evidence and consider the timescales from funders – some grants will be rolling programmes, open all year, whilst others will conform to strict deadlines.
Consider all Options
Our Wheel of Fortune illustrates all the different ways schools can raise funds, from corporate sponsorship and lettings to donations, crowdfunding and grant fundraising. Many funders will expect some level of contribution from you so consider how you can generate additional, sustainable income to support this.
Build a Case for Support
You’ll need to demonstrate, and articulate clearly, why your project is worthy of funding. What is the evidence of need? What impact will this have? What proof do you have that this warrants support? And remember, most funders really want to hear from your beneficiaries – the people most effected by the project. So, get them involved right from the start! How about a simple competition to name the project, involving your children. This helps engage parents/carers while building some excitement early on and making it feel like a team process.
Sprinkle the Stardust
Finally, consider how you can make your application stand out from the crowd. Can you add a short video, some photographs, surveys and testimonials from beneficiaries or user groups, for example. Always put yourself in the shoes of the respective funder – what might pique their interest and inspire them to invest in you and your school.
For specialist support with writing your funding bid check out our Bid Writing Service for Schools service.
Our Winning Bids Masterclass courses are especially designed to give you the confidence, knowledge and resources to become a successful bid writer for your school.