I support organisations & creatives to fundraise through grant applications and project proposals.
Writing your ‘bid’ for funding can be daunting – there’s often a lot of guidance to read, unfamiliar language and a list of resources and attachments you’re supposed to include. I help to cut through the noise, helping you identify what is needed to realise what you want.
I specialise in embedding evaluation and learning into applications – rooting the start of your funding journey in the practices of evaluation you will be expected to deliver at the end.
Bid writing is storytelling and I can help you craft a meaningful and purposeful narrative.
Budgeting & Time
The earlier I know about your fundraising needs and the funder you want to apply to, the better! But things don’t always go to plan – when you are up against a tight deadline or you need to apply unexpectedly, I understand how worrying that can be, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
As a general rule of thumb, the more work you have already done on developing your project or core ask, the less support you are likely to need. Sometimes you may only need me to review what you have written or you may need me to write your bid ‘from scratch’ – whatever your needs, I will always try to accommodate your available budget by offering the most efficient and relevant support.
My Fees
My standard day rate is £350.
As a new client it is usual for us to work together on a temporary basis, a single one-off bid to a particular funder. However, you may want more ongoing support that includes wider fundraising skills, such as Prospect Research and/or a review of your Fundraising Strategy. Feel free to contact me to discuss the level of support you need within the budget you have. I am not VAT registered – accordingly, VAT is not chargeable on the fees stated.
• Project-based: A distinct package of work or series of activities with clear aims and a start / end date
• Retainer-based: An ongoing relationship with a regular fixed fee for services
• Ad hoc-based: A temporary needs based task-by-task relationship
It is important to understand that paying for fundraising support does not mean you are guaranteed to receive funding.
Other info & Resources
It’s important that you contact the funder you want to apply to in plenty of time before you want to apply. Most medium to large schemes will have ‘officers’ or ‘managers’ that look after geographical areas or particular grant pots – these people are there to support your application process and a strong relationship with them will give you more confidence & greater access to guidance when needed.
Some funders have deadlines for grants as well as rolling bid application schemes. Be sure to check the scheme you are applying to and be realistic about the start date of your project. Funders will often tell you their ‘turn around’ time – the amount of time between you submitting your application and a decision – make sure you build this time into your planning.
• The Chartered Institute of Fundraising as some wonderful free resources about grant funding and identifying other sources of support – CIF Resources
• National Lottery Heritage Fund – If you are considering applying for an NLHF grant I’d advise you visit this page first to identify if your idea is in line with the organisations outcomes – NLHF Outcomes
• If you are a first time Arts Council England applicant, I’d advise visiting this page of their website first as this give you a break down of the basics and provides some useful FAQs – New to ACE