Many of the requests for consultancy I receive are from people who need money to deliver a project or idea.
However, many of the funders I talk to are inundated by requests from worthy causes and struggle to decide who to support. Most trusts and foundations can only offer grants to a small proportion of the organisations who ask, even from amongst those whose work meets their funding interests and criteria.
As a result, many good projects fail to receive funding and those applying can get disheartened.
Whilst there are no guarantees of success, there are ways in which you can improve your chances of obtaining funding for your work. Here are just a few:
Tell stories. talk about the impact your work is having using case studies, anecdotes etc.
Share pictures; they are, after all, worth a thousand words.
Show passion. Tell the funder about your commitment to your cause.
Celebrate success. Share the difference you have already made.
Get the numbers right. A clear, accurate and realistic budget (and one that adds up!) is vital.
For more help on preparing and submitting effective funding requests, please contact me.