Nia Sterling of the Waterloo Foundation on making a better ask. WCVA Funding Conference 2012.

1. Meet the Trusts:
Making a better ask
Demystifying our
application process, and showing you
how to make your proposal stand out

2. Why have an application process?
• Large volume of proposals
• Time constraints
• Budgetary restrictions
• Equality and fairness
• Due diligence

3. Before you apply
What do you need funding for? A Establish the type
particular project, or staff salaries to of funding you
need, timescale
carry out your core work, for and who will
example.. manage the
fundraising process
Research which
organisations
offer funding that Consider the amount
meets your of funding available
needs – look
outside of the box for the time invested
(and outside
Wales!)

4. How does our application process work?
Pre-application research
Decision & agree monitoring and reporting
Formulating a proposal
Assignment Assessment

5. Is what we do, Pre-application
what they do?
• For us
• Keep the website up-to-date
• For you • disseminate relevant information on
grant programmes
• Background research – visit the
website or get in touch: • respond quickly and honestly to
enquiries
– establish what the timescale is
• Regularly review to make sure we’re
– how much funding is available meeting
funding needs
– whether your funding need meets
the fund’s criteria
– No two funders are the same, so
ensure that you research that
particular funder’s requirements
and objectives.

6. Formulating a proposal
• • For us
For you
• Answer enquiries on formulating
• If eligible, and bearing in mind any
proposals, and ensure the website
deadlines or funding cycles,
is up to date with application
formulate your proposal – read
requirements and deadlines
and follow individual guidelines
on the website carefully and take
into account any advice you’ve • Due to the large volume of
received potential applicants, a meeting is
not usually required at this stage

7. Assignment
• For us
• For you
• Initial sift through of proposals –
those not eligible, or that have not
• After submitting your proposal, there demonstrated eligibility in their
may be a wait, usually of between 2- proposal are unlikely to make it past
10 weeks, before you are contacted this stage (approx 60%). Ineligible
with notification of the initial applications will receive notification
outcome (ineligible, unsuccessful, of their ineligibility.
or taken forward for further
research). Feel free to call us to
ensure we’ve received the proposal if • Assignment of proposals – the best
you haven’t heard from us. proposals are ‘assigned’ for further
research (approx 25%). Some
proposals, even if eligible, may not
go forward at this stage, due to
competition for budget with other
proposals. Unsuccessful eligible
applicants will be notified and can
receive feedback on request.

8. Making your proposal stand out
• Provide the general information requested for all
applications (e.g. charity registration number, contact
address, website etc)
• Provide relevant information to demonstrate how your
proposal meets the requirements of the programme you
are applying under e.g. Caring Wales or Environment –
Marine. (available on website)

9. Example of a strong proposal - handout
General Information Programme-specific requirements (Caring
Wales Fund)
 your charity’s name, address and charity
number
 email, phone and name of a person to reply to  provide a range of carer-centred support
services,
 the programme under which you are applying
 demonstrate strong links with other projects,
 how it meets the specific interests/criteria of interventions, organisations and services to
the programme you are applying under
ensure a holistic family support approach
 a link to your website  reach a substantial number of individuals,
whilst
 what it's for
 proactively identifying and working with the
 who it benefits most isolated and vulnerable carers,
 evidence of the success of your previous  offer sufficient levels of support,
projects
 how much you want and when  proactively monitor and evaluate their work to
improve services and demonstrate impact
 what happens if you don't get our help
 promote participation of service users in
shaping their services.

10. Why is monitoring and evaluation so important?
Source: NPC

11. Real examples of what not to do
• Proposal received on 14th March 2012, which needed funding by 21st March
2012 – this shows a lack of planning ahead
• Proposal for a grant of $300,000 to our World Development fund, for a
single-community project. Our maximum grants under the World
Development fund are £100k, and for large-scale initiatives (i.e. district /
regional level). For community-scale initiatives, maximum grants are £10k
• Proposals to our ‘Wales fund’ because the project or organisation is based
in Wales. Proposals need to be made under one of our funding programmes
i.e. Caring Wales.

12. Assessment
• • For us
For you
•
• Assess the proposal for strength
Respond to enquiries on the
proposal against standard criteria (as on
website)
•
• Due diligence (e.g. take up
Provide relevant documents,
background information etc. references, check financial history,
policies & procedures, charity
registration, strength of key staff
• In some circumstances it may be
and trustees, child protection or
more convenient to meet to discuss
POVA policies etc. )
the proposal in full.
• Any background research on
subject / need
• The assessment stage usually lasts
around 8 weeks, but can be anything • Ask for further information i.e.
from 2 – 16 weeks. Feel free to ask detailed project plan, objectives /
how long you can expect it to take, targets, monitoring & evaluation
as it is likely to be different in each methods, budget breakdown, etc.
case. • Keep the applicant updated on
status of proposal

13. Decision
• For you • For us
• • Prepare summary of findings
You will be notified of outcome
of trustee meeting and recommendation to
trustees
• Discuss and propose
• Trustee decision
monitoring & evaluation
information agreement
• Notify applicant of outcome
• Read and accept
terms and conditions of grant • Discuss and put together a
monitoring and evaluation
information agreement