The document provides guidance for NICVA members on applying for grants, emphasizing the importance of eligibility, planning, clear communication, and matching project goals with funder criteria. It outlines common reasons for successful applications, highlighting the need for well-researched proposals and effective monitoring and evaluation processes. The document also details various funding sources and offers strategic tips for enhancing grant application success.

1. Tips on Applying for Grants
NICVA Members Day
November 2012

2. Where does your money currently
come from?
Restricted Unrestricted Income Generation

3. Fundraising Targets
• Fundraising Strategy
• How much do you need
• Set a Target
• How do you currently
fundraise?
• What is your fundraising
capacity?
• Current Income sources

4. Fundraising Income

5. “The process of fundraising is the same
for all groups but the mechanisms and
scale are different”
Tobin Aldrich, Director of Communications and
Fundraising at WWF, UK.

6. Ten Reasons Why Applications
Succeed
1. Applicant is eligible – has charitable status.
2. Project is well planned and clearly evidenced.
3. Applicants present their project clearly and concisely
on the application form.
4. The applicant demonstrates that they meet the
criteria and approaches the appropriate funder.
5. Applications are made with monitoring and
evaluation processes in place

7. “Ten Reasons Why Applications
Succeed” (2)
6. The budget is clear and there is convincing
financial management procedures.
7. The applicant doesn’t miss the deadline.
8. The applicant “does not plead poverty.”
9. The application enclosures are complete,
accurate, up to date and enclosed.
10. The applicant doesn’t ask for too much

8. Funders comments
• Answer ALL the questions
• Write in your own language
• Check figures, often don’t add up
• Don’t ask for too much
• Not continuation funding
• Read instructions & guidelines
• Consider average grants

9. Planning Process
• Before – Do your research – also plan to
ensure no last minute calamities
• During – attention to detail to ensure a
confident application
• After – finishing off well – check details

10. YEAR PLAN
2013
2013 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
JANUARY Fundraising Strategy/set targets
Fundraising Strategy/set targets
FEBRUARY
Apply to Ireland Funds
Apply to Ireland Funds
MARCH
Apply to Awards for All
Apply to Awards for All
APRIL
MAY Decision from Awards for All
JUNE Decision from Ireland Funds Awards for All project begins
Awards for All project begins
JULY
Ireland Funds Project begins
Ireland Funds Project begins
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Apply to Lloyds TSB Foundation
Apply to Lloyds TSB Foundation
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER Monitoring returns for Ireland Funds
Monitoring returns for Ireland Funds

11. Aims and Outcomes
• Aims: your aims are the areas of change you intend
to achieve through your project and which stem
directly from the needs of your clients.
• Outcomes are all the changes and effects that
actually happen as a result of your work, expected or
unexpected, welcome or unwelcome. The outcomes
you hope to see are all the specific changes that will
help you to achieve your aims.

12. But but but
• We’re too small
• We’ve no resources
• We don’t have the
right expertise
• We don’t have time

13. “What do you want the grant for?”
• No point applying because there is funding
• Half-baked will be seen through and could
damage long term credibility
• The funder is expecting a clear description of
exactly what their money will be spent on.
• Be specific with what you are asking for
• Break down the need and the relevant costs

14. How do you know the project is
needed?
Funders look for clear evidence of need for projects
they intend to fund.
• Statistics from a recognised source
• Short quotes from clients
• Surveys, questionnaires or hold public meetings.
• Research carried out by other groups or agencies
e.g. local Health and Social Services Trust.
• Let the funder know you have done your homework!

15. Issues to research
• Total Grants Budget
• Copy of Annual Report/Accounts
• Application deadlines, meeting dates
• When is the best time to apply
• What do trustees particularly look for
• How are applications assessed

16. Deeper Research
• Speak to the Trust
• Look into past grants, history of the trust
• Speak to organisations who have been
successful
• Speak to funding advisers
• Investigate, speak to Trustees
• Look at accounts/annual report

17. Completing the Form
• Check Eligibility
• Imagine the Funder’s Perspective
• Matching Your Aims and Objectives with the
Criteria of the Funder
• Be Clear and Concise
• Be Honest and Accurate with Information
• Reference documents / enclosures
• Recruit helpers, delegate tasks
• Schedule time

18. The Funders Viewpoint
The Funder doesn’t The Funder wants to
want to fund: fund:

19. Monitoring
Collect information:
• Before the project - on the situation now
• During and after the project on - what you did (on your
activities (outputs) and the changes you brought about
(outcomes))
You will instinctively be collecting data, but you need to
take time and planning to collect information in an
organised and routine manner.
Good monitoring data provides you with a sound basis
for judgements (evaluation) and information to give to
funders.

20. Evaluation
Evaluation involves judging the successes and failures
of your project or organisation, often based on an
analysis of your monitoring information.
•Analyse the data and make judgements
•During and after the project to judge your success and
the impact you had.
•Identify what you have learnt, particularly what works
and what doesn’t and share findings
•Be open and honest in the evaluation process

21. Grant-making organisations

22. Grant-making Trusts/Foundations
Estimates
•Around 9,000 Trusts in the UK
•The largest 2,500 give £3 billion each year
•Make up estimated 10% of voluntary sector
income in Northern Ireland

23. Trusts/Foundations 2011
• Wellcome Trust £642m
• Comic Relief (2011) £100m
• Leverhulme Trust £53m
• Wolfson Foundation £49m
• Gatsby Charitable Foundation £45m
• Sainsbury Family over £1 billion (18 Trusts)
• Garfield Weston Foundation £40.5m
• Esmee Fairbairn Foundation £40m
• Henry Smith - £28.8m

24. Henry Smith 2012
• Kids together West Belfast - £6,450
• Lisburn Downtown Centre - £9,000
• Dunnaman Childrens Centre - £2,000
• Link Family and Community Centre - £96,000
• 2012 Total for NI so far – £312,350

25. NI Charitable Trusts
• Small in comparison to UK.
• At least £50m per annum.
– Community Foundation NI – Various
– Ulster Garden Villages – Quality of life
– Victoria Homes Trust – Homelessness,
drugs
– Lloyds TSB Foundation – disadvantaged
communities

26. Case Study – Ireland Funds
•Estimated €1 million per annum in small grants
•Supporting a shared future for N Ireland
–In 2011 - 208 applications in NI
–31 Supported = success rate of 15%
–Average grant in NI = £4,225
–Biggest mistakes - Requests outside guidelines
–Incomplete applications/budgets/contacts
–Project description – Hitting send!

27. Common Criteria
• New and innovative methods of tackling
problems
• Responses to newly identified needs
• A one-off item of equipment or project
• Short-term projects
• Targeting at most disadvantaged
• Activities for which other forms of fundraising
is difficult

28. Common Exclusions
• Core / on-going running costs
• Current salaries / projects
• Retrospective costs
• Long-term funding
• Non-registered charities
• Work outside the UK
• Large capital projects
• Replacing statutory funding / responsibility

29. Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

31. Other Funders

32. National Lottery
• 28p of every £1 spent on the lottery goes to
good causes in the UK.

33. National Lottery in NI
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland
• Sports Council of Northern Ireland
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Big Lottery Fund
• NI Screen
• Unltd

34. Government
• Central Government/Agencies
– UK Government Departments
– ROI Government
– NI Executive Departments
– Northern Ireland Government
Agencies
– Semi-Statutory Bodies
• Local Government
• Social Investment Fund

35. European Union 2007 - 2013
• Peace III – €324m
– Positive relations are built at the local level
€140m
– The Past is acknowledged €50m
– Creating Shared Public Spaces €82m
– Key Institutional Capacities are developed for a
shared society €40m
– Technical Assistance €12
• Community Initiatives and Budget Lines
• Competitiveness and Employment

36. The Internet
"The Internet is for nerds, it will never make
money for my business!”

37. Social Media
• Must have a presence
• Follow important funders/contacts
• Apply via Facebook
• Vote via Facebook
• Let people fundraise for you via social media
• Be aware of calls for application
• Deadlines published

42. Strategy/Hit List
• Key Targets - Local Council, Big Lottery
Fund, Lloyds TSB Foundation
• Middle Ground - Henry Smith Foundation,
Garfield Weston Foundation, Ulster Garden
Villages
• Long Shots - Clothworkers Foundation,
Bombardier Aerospace Foundation

43. Recession and other impacts
• Some Trusts income significantly down
• Knock on effect less grants and lower
amounts
• Sustainability of some groups called into
question
• EU Funding has had a detrimental effect on
applications to trusts
• Not all bad – some trusts have bucked the
trend

44. Final Tips
• Properly plan and cost you projects
• Thoroughly research funder
• Apply in good time
• Read and use the guidelines
• Fully complete the form with all enclosures
• Keep records
• Make several applications

45. Ronseal Effect

46. Contact Details
James Laverty
NICVA
Tel: 028 9087 7777
james.laverty@nicva.org
www.twitter.com/jameslaverty
www.nicva.org
www.grant-tracker.org