It’s important to have a good understanding of what the desired outcome of this money is for. It could be to:
- attract more women to the group (marketing/advertising)
- train more Peer Supporters
- additional/updating training for current Peer Supporters
- gain more group resources
Fundraising can be divided into three:
Community fundraising
This is usually things like selling cakes or having a sponsored bike ride/run. The benefits of this type of fundraising is that the funds that you raise are generally unrestricted, which means that once you have the money, you can keep it in your bank and spend it when you want, on what you want. The disadvantage of community fundraising it that it can take quite a lot to organise (or quite a lot of training before if you are doing a triathlon) and it might not be worth the effort for the money you raise in the end. A lot of people enjoy the social aspect and the creativity of this type of fundraising though.
Grant applications
The benefits of this type of fundraising is that you can be quite specific about what you want to achieve and you can get quite a lot of money in one go and it does not require lots of organising, maybe just one person to actually write the bid. The disadvantage of this type of fundraising is that your funds are restricted to what you have specified, within a certain time frame. Some grant maker are more flexible than others so if, for example, you have specified that you want money for buying food and in the meantime a sponsor comes along with food, you may be able to go back to your original grant maker with a different idea of how to spend the money, or you may have to give it back. See below on how to make a fantastic funding bid. Some grant makers require your group to have a constitution – this basically means that it requires you to be a little bit more formal – here is an example constitution from Perranporth Breastfriends.
Sponsorships
Sponsorship can come in different ways: you may find a company or local business who wants to give you money to spend on what you like for the company in exchange of promoting/marking their company or you may receive direct goods from them – i.e. a bakery may supply the groups with weekly pasties. This is great and can be a real pull in recruiting more women to the groups (offering free lunch!). The disadvantage to this type of fundraising is that is usually means one or two people cold calling local businesses.
How to make a fantastic funding bid
1. Who should I apply to?
Understanding a funder’s priority is crucial. If your application will clearly further a funder’s goal, then you could have a strong case. However, if a funder’s goal does not compliment your own, then focus your efforts elsewhere. On the other hand, if a funder has previously funded a case similar to your own, the go ahead with applying.
Good areas for Breastfeeding Group
- Community Grants Scheme – from your local councillor(s). As your group may attract women from other local areas, you want to apply to more than just 1 councillor. Perranporth were successful in applying to Perranporth and Goonhavern Councillors (see example).
- Local council website
2. The things that funders look for
Funders want evidence that the need for your case exists and exactly how the money will provide for that need. It is important that the aims for fulfilling the need are clear and precise, and that there is a realistic budget for your case. The delivery of your case is vital so be sure your goals are realistic, all numbers add up and show your past achievements. Be sure all attention to detail is made with your applications and that an exit strategy is made, even if one isn’t required. These things will make funders have more faith in your bid.
3. How can I show what impact funding will have?
This can be tricky, but one of the best methods can be simply showing past achievements of your organisation. This will mean providing quotes, case studies and stories as well as statistics. But be sure to keep your vision clear and not neglect the bigger picture.
4. Top tips for style and tone
Keep your bid factual and precise at all times, avoid jargon. Try and ensure that your tone matches theirs, and bear in mind who will be reviewing your application – make it easy for them to understand and keep it to the point. Keep a file of supporting evidence and don’t keep masses of unnecessary material. Additionally, perhaps most importantly, don’t be greedy with your funding money. Playing with your numbers will only make for blanket appeals; just ask for the amount needed for a stronger case.
5. How can I increase my chances of receiving further funding?
Be sure to complete all progress reports on time, as this is a mistake many make. This puts more trust into your organisation – other things such as being truthful in your feedback and making a personal relationship with someone in the foundation also ensures this. Lastly, be sure to acknowledge your funders support in your publicity to make a bigger chance of further funding.
(source http://knowhownonprofit.org/how-to/how-to-make-a-fantastic-funding-bid)