Step One: Preparing your application
Before you even think about where the money and resources are and how to make an application there are some questions you need to ask yourself.
What difference will you make by undertaking the activity?
Is there any evidence of need for the activities you are proposing?
What will you do with the money? The Project Plan
How much money do you need? The Budget
How will you manage the project?
What happens when the money runs out? The Exit Strategy.
Is your group or organisation ready to be responsible for the money?
Click on the links on the left to explore how you can answer these questions. As you answer each question make some notes so you have a record of what you have thought or agreed.
You could use the Apply Yourself package from Funder Finder if you find it helps.The package is a bit of software that takes you through the process of pulling together all the information that you might need and allows you to print off a final document. If you use this please let us know how you found it by sending us your comments.
Application forms for different funding organisations are often set out differently, ask questions in a different way and in a different order. Nevertheless they are all likely to ask these questions in some way. Taking the time to answer them now will save you lots of time later on when filling in application forms or writing letters. Regardless of the size of your activity and the amount of resources you need you should still answer all the questions. The level of detail you need will depend on the scale of the project.
For more information on how to write the application please see writing a good application.
