Grant fundraising
HOW TO FUND AN
ambitious project
A
n ambitious project is one that goes above and beyond a school’s everyday activities to achieve
something extraordinary, and is likely to cost upwards of £30,000. Many ambitious projects require significant external funding to make them happen and often require complex applications to multiple funders. They also need thorough planning, with the flexibility to deal with unanticipated change along the way. So how can you best approach an ambitious project?
Give yourself plenty of time Bringing an ambitious project to fruition shouldn’t be rushed. There are many things that have to fall into place before you are in a strong position to bid for funding, such as: n Clear, detailed and shared objectives n A robust delivery plan n A strong project team n Detailed evidence from recent community consultation n Quotations for work n Permissions and policies. Don’t risk being unprepared, because an incomplete or delayed application might jeopardise your chances of securing funding.
Consider your funding mix Ambitious projects are usually complex to fund, due to their size and scope. It is unlikely that one grant will fund everything you need.
Do you have a project in mind that will exceed your usual fundraising limits? Bid-writing expert Rachel Gordon demonstrates that with careful planning, the sky’s the limit
Some funders will not fund a project outright, especially when the total project cost is over £15,000. Others insist on match funding. Your funding mix could include grants from grant-making trusts and foundations, company giving, community donations, in-kind support (i.e. donations of goods, services and people’s time and expertise) and fundraising events. A funding mix allows you to
demonstrate that you are not wholly reliant on grant funding to make your project happen. Set targets for each relevant funding stream. Some schools raise concerns about
‘Ambitious projects
are usually complex to fund. It is unlikely
that one grant will fund everything you need’
FundEd AUTUMN 2018 33
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