Please note that this guidance is neither exhaustive, nor compiled by a qualified expert. It is only intended to give a brief outline to help people get started. Anyone applying for funding must do their own reading and research, and if necessary seek competent advice, to ensure that they understand what is required; they must not rely on this information!
Contents of this article:
What can be funded
Almost anything!
Capital expenditure:
Training:
NB: It is best to work out all the training that members will need/wish to undertake in a 12-month period, and submit an application to cover the cost of the whole lot. This is much better than applying for a separate small grant for each person or course; less effort, demonstrates good planning, and is more likely to be successful.
Schemes and projects:
Voluntary bodies (members’ clubs and associations)
They can apply for the widest range of funding options.
Commercial organisations (shooting grounds, clubs or ranges run as a business or part of a business)
Some funding bodies will not accept applications from them.
Individuals
Not so much funding is available, unless they have disabilities or impairments, or have been identified as potential elite performers.
Before any work is done on the scheme or project for which the funds are sought. You will find that all grant-giving bodies refuse to fund anything that has been done before the date on which they decide on an application, and many will not fund “work in progress”, so you must get the funding agreed before anyone starts work.
Some of the points under this heading may appear to be statements of the blindingly obvious. They are included because sometimes people who are dealing with lots of unfamiliar paperwork do overlook such things - and kick themselves afterwards for doing so!
Available as a download is a helpful article from the Winter 2006/7 issue of The Rifleman about how the Northamptonshire county association applied successfully for an Awards for All grant to cover the cost of range repairs. Since the article was written sports grants have been taken out of the Awards for All system and are now administered (in exactly the same way) as the Sport England Small Grants Scheme.
Get advice
Unless your scheme or project is very straightforward, seek advice from your national governing body (it’s what you pay your subscriptions for), from appropriate specialist bodies (such as the Disabled Shooting Project), and/or from the local County Sports Partnership (CSP). Every county has a CSP (some go under different names) which can be contacted via the county council, or the CSP Network website. Their task is to facilitate development of and participation in sport, and their services are free (it’s what you pay Council Tax for). They can advise on the best funding bodies to approach, including local ones which are often little known about, and on putting together your application package. They also have lots of useful contacts for specialist information and advice.
Sort out exactly what you are seeking funding for
Check carefully that you have thought of everything that might be necessary.
Strengthen your case
The more “desirable factors” boxes you can tick, the better the chances of success. The strongest ones to go for are:
If you can combine some of these, so much the better:
Produce costings
Get several quotations or estimates. Examine carefully any that are dramatically lower than the others.
Chose the right bodies to apply to
Check all the guidance and small print carefully to make sure that what you want funded falls within their criteria. If it doesn’t, chose another funder, as it’s almost impossible to get bodies to step outside their criteria.
As a general rule, the bodies that provide larger grants have much more complicated application forms and processes. If your scheme can be divided into several elements (e.g. installing disabled toilets, providing special equipment, and training coaches) it might be worth applying for separate funding for each element. This means applying to separate bodies, not making more than one application to the same organisation!
Use a checklist
Take care to identify everything that must be included in the application, and sent with it.
Then take care that it is all included and sent.
Be persuasive
Set out all the reasons for making the application, and the benefits that will flow from receipt of the funding. Put them down in a logical order, with the most important ones at the top of the list. Emphasise the benefits to the tick-box groups mentioned above, ahead of the benefits for the ordinary members/participants. If it is obvious that the body you are applying to is particularly interested in something (e.g. young people in sport), make sure that you mention points relevant to that topic early on, and re-emphasise them where appropriate.
Remember that a picture is worth 1,000 words; and exactly the right picture is worth a fortune. If you’ve got exactly the right picture, put it on the front cover when you submit the application.
Be thorough
Set out clearly the objective(s) for which you are seeking funding.
Demonstrate that you have a clear plan for accomplishing your objective(s).
Try to anticipate what questions might be raised by those considering the application, and include the answers at the outset; it may avoid delay later.
If you know that a significant problem might arise, bear in mind that it may also be apparent to those considering the application. Consider whether it would be best to mention it in the application and explain how it will be dealt with if it does arise, rather than not mentioning it and hoping they won’t notice.
Be concise
If you feel that lengthy explanations are necessary to clarify certain points, it’s best to put them in a separate document referred to in the main application. The people who read it will want to be able to grasp all the keys points of the application on their first read through, then look at the detailed explanations.
Avoid unnecessary repetition, and don’t waffle!
Look professional
A neatly-presented application package will create a good initial impression. Try to ensure that there are no obvious grammatical errors, spelling mistakes or typos.
Recruit support
Identify any organisations and/or individuals whose support may be influential, and ask them to provide letters or statements to accompany the application.
NB: The DSP is able to provide letters of support where funding is sought for something connected with disabled participation in the sport.
Keep copies
Make copies of the application and everything sent with it, as you may need to refer to them in order to answer any queries raised by the body applied to.
Also keep copies of anything submitted subsequent to the application.
Request an acknowledgement
This confirms that the application has arrived safely. You can also ask when a decision is likely to be made, as you will need that date for planning purposes.
Tips
These web pages contain useful tips on how to prepare good applications, and advice on avoiding pitfalls.
Funding Central
Lottery Funding
CW Sport
The DSP’s Co-ordinator, Liz Woodall, wrote a two-part article on Grants, Sponsorship and Other Fundraising for the NSRA’s journal The Rifleman. It appeared in the Summer and Autumn issues of 2008. The article is now available on this site as a download.
Dr. Terri Byers, Principal Lecturer on Sport Management at Coventry Business School (part of Coventry University) has been producing guidance for the Funding 4 Sport e-bulletins. It is available on this site as a download. NB: This may be added to, so it might be worth re-visiting from time to time.
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