Grants
3 Give yourself time
to take this seriously
According to a survey by Pebble, around 93% of SBMs agree it is important to have a fundraising plan, but only six per cent actually have one. Lack of time is cited as the reason, yet thousands of schools take the time to submit grant applications each year. What’s really important is to build time and resources into strategic income generation. Many schools are now incorporating this responsibility into SBM/SBL roles, while others are introducing development officer posts. Whichever route you choose,
you must allocate enough time to assemble a precise fundraising plan, identify your strategic priorities and garner support for your projects. Clear headspace and thinking time will reap rewards.
4Develop a strong project narrative
Many of us working in education understand the power of building relationships with donors, and this
applies to grant funders and trustees too. Engaging with an audience on an emotive level brings results. Ultimately, a grant application is where you tell the story of your project to a third party. The grant trustees will almost certainly know nothing about your school or its context. Set the scene and explain clearly why their funds should be invested in your school. Take them on your fundraising journey. We work in a people-centered
sector that nurtures and grows young minds, so demonstrate clearly what impact your project will have on your pupils. Use pictures or video clips if you can. Include statements of support, testimonials, case studies, graphs and photos to bring your story to life. You need to win the battle of
hearts and minds if you’re going to be successful. Focus on the outcomes, not on the resources you need to achieve those outcomes. I secured National Lottery
funding for computers, furniture and the redecoration of a classroom.
Rather than making it all about the desks and computers, my application was focused on the need for a ‘Basic Skills Beginners IT Club’ for local people.
5 Demonstrate the need and impact
Sadly, there isn’t enough money to pay for all the nice things we would like to have. Your application needs to prove that this is a must-have project, an initiative in which you’re pulling out all the stops. ‘Need’ can often be brought to life with photos (physical condition) and with data (statistics to show progress or attainment). You’ll have to show that you’ve
explored all other avenues and that the funding support you’re applying for is the only way you can make your project happen. For example, a pilot project could
demonstrate impact on a small scale, so you can clearly show that the initiative is valid and give a sense of what could be achieved on a grander scale, with funding.
‘Set the scene and explain why
funds should be invested in your school. Take grant funders on your fundraising journey’
FundEd SUMMER 2020 41
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