10 steps to grant success
Many PTAs focus solely on events to raise money, but grants offer a different kind of way to boost funds. Here’s how it works
Grant-giving trusts are charities that exist in order to give money, through grants, to other organisations, who then carry out the aims of the trust. Collectively, they provide around £4billion in the UK every year, and many support schools and PTAs. The hundreds of
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funding opportunities out there come from a variety of sources, from national grant- givers with multi-million-pound money pots to small, local charitable trusts. Many national and local companies also have corporate social responsibility (CSR) schemes that can provide funding. Here’s our step-by-step guide to grants...
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
Whether a funder will donate to you depends on their set criteria, including where you’re based, who will benefit and the cause you’re trying to address. It’s almost impossible to receive funding for general or unspecified purposes, so the starting point when looking to apply is to make sure you know what your project is and what you want from the grant. Grants can be used to cover all kinds of costs – equipment purchase, classroom resources, new buildings or refurbishment. Whatever your
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project is, you should be clear about how it will be used and the impact it will have.
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FUNDERS
Once you know what you’re raising funds for, you can look for funders that give to causes like yours. There are several ways to find grant-givers; your local authority’s website may have a grant-finding search
engine. You can also access the school grants database at funded.
org.uk, which lists grants worth over £13million collectively, specifically aimed at schools. It’s also worth just searching ‘school grants in [your local area]’ on Google, to see who is funding similar work near you.
UTILISE YOUR CHARITY STATUS
Around 70% of PTAs are registered with the Charity Commission. If you are a registered charity, bear this in mind as you do your research, as it is likely to widen the number of grants you’re able to apply for. Sometimes if the PTA isn’t eligible to apply for a grant, the school may be.
NARROWING IT DOWN
There are thousands of grant-givers out there, all funding different things in different ways, which
means you are highly likely to find one that fits your project. But this does mean it can be tricky to narrow the list down. To help you do this, consult the trust’s criteria. Some trusts have their own website where this can be found, and you can find more information about them at the Charity Commission. Each trust will have varying
criteria for funding, which may include specific exclusions, areas of interest, limits to the size of grant they’ll give, the types of organisation they support and who they have funded before. If you don’t meet the stated criteria, don’t apply – move on and find one where you do.
MAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS
Don’t settle for a single funder when you’re researching – it’s best to apply to as many relevant funders as you can to maximise your chances. If a relevant trust has a grant that you’re eligible for and offers all the funds you need, that’s fantastic, but don’t rule out grants that don’t offer the full amount. You can apply to several grant-givers for part-funding to make up your total, but be aware that some may stipulate that you raise some of the funds yourself. Do make sure you note down the different application timescales when applying to different places, and have a plan in place for what you’ll do if you only get some of the money you are requesting.
WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
Once you know who to apply to, it’s time to think about your application. The application process varies wildly
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