Seeking a Grant for your Fundraising

Much of your time as a fundraiser can be spent trying to obtain grants and support from local or national organisations and companies. Grant seeking is an integral aspect of being a good fundraiser and often the best charity foundations and voluntary sector companies have a successful history of receiving grants to help them continue with their mission. There are a variety of places that you can apply for a grant and also a number of different types available. However, at the core, they are all looking for the same information from you and you should be confident in delivering that.
Writing the Grant Proposal
When it comes to approaching an organisation or company for a grant, it is important to remember that you may be one of hundreds, if not thousands, all trying to obtain money from the one place. The key therefore is to be fully prepared and know your limits and expectations from the grant you are seeking. There are a variety of excellent publications available that outline how to write a sparkling grant proposal, but one of the key things is to remember that honesty is the best policy. When you write your grant proposal, keep in mind the following factors:- The reason for your application
- The expectations of your application
- The history of your fundraising organisation
- The future plans for your fundraising organisation
- How the grant will help you reach the goals you have for your organisation
- How the grant giving organisation can benefit or be involved from helping you
- Outline the timescale for any project they may help you with
- Address how the project and budget will be monitored
For most grant giving organisations, it’s important to really understand the fundraising drive they may be supporting, so knowing all the details in advance before sending in your proposal can be the difference between a successful attempt at grant seeking and an unsuccessful one. Many grant approving organisations will want to meet with you on a personal level before approving a grant, others will be happy to approve it on the grounds of the proposal you send them, it’s entirely up to the company and you have to be flexible with your approach.
Re: Cash Raffles - Are They Legal?
Does anyone know if it is legal for a small business to run a raffle for their own gain?