The voluntary sector has become incredibly skilled in raising income through grants and external trusts. Grants come in a variety of forms and are given by a variety of funders. Each funder has its own specific criteria and methods for assessing applications. It is therefore no surprise that this marketplace is highly competitive. Given that, how does an organisation avoid some of the common pitfalls, which means they spend more time applying for funds than receiving grants or awards?

Lesson 1. Always read the guidance.

“If only they read our eligibility criteria, they would see that we don’t fund that. A perennial complaint from funders”, Third Sector magazine.

According to the latest figures from the Big Lottery Fund, 46% of applications to one of its main funding programmes were ineligible. It is easy to forget that trusts, foundations, and other grant-making organisations have their own goals and priorities to meet. If you are seeking external financial support, you must identify a strong match between your organisation or project and the organisation you are approaching for support. This requires an investment of time to undertake the appropriate level of research to ensure that match. Remember also that details such as your level of turnover and the location in which you operate may make your application redundant before you even begin. So read the guidance and do not waste valuable time.

Lesson 2. Avoid jargon.

Once you have identified the right opportunities, you will inevitably be faced with a series of questions to which you need to provide a comprehensive written response to. Here are some top tips:

• Be clear from the outset what your project is about; and what you are trying to achieve? If you don’t know, how is the Funder supposed to know?
• Remember that the reader will most likely be new to your organisation, so you must never assume any prior knowledge. It will go in your favour if you are clear and concise.
• Avoid jargon and buzzwords. Never use language that is unique to your organisation or its activities (or, if you must, at least explain what it means). Phrases that confuse and baffle will also frustrate.
• Ask somebody with good written skills to proofread your answers before you submit them. Do they understand what your project is all about? Were they excited by it? Your answer should not lead to more questions. It should be clear enough that the reader understands and, more importantly, can make an effective decision.

If help is on offer from the funder, then take it. It is always useful to meet the funder to ask questions, get feedback and familiarised the funding officer with your work.

Lesson 3. Make sure the sums make sense

Another common reason for applications being rejected is applicants asking for unrealistic sums of money. If a funder states that their average level of committed grant is £20,000 then they will not fund a bid for £90,000. Similarly, asking for a lesser amount than you need, as a way of achieving a grant, is not ideal either simply because an organisation that does that will not have enough with which to run that project.

Strike a balance based on the funding recommendation for each award

Funders are also frustrated by simple budgetary errors such as miscalculations, unproven assumptions, or just poor mathematics. Always double or triple-check the calculations and ensure that the budget is sufficient for your needs. Applications are often refused on this basis.

Funding officers may have several hundred applications to check. Do not give them an easy excuse to reject yours.