Renfrewshire will be a thriving, safe and forward looking community which cares for its people and its environment 
Renfrewshire community plan 2000 - 2010 Applying for funds
Home > Services > Community and Living > Community Councils > Induction Pack
Like other voluntary organisations, community councils are able to raise funds in order to carry out their work in community. Often this involves the organisation of fund-raising events, but another option that is often open to community councils is to apply for grant funding from one of a very wide range of sources. The quality of the application for grant funding can often be critical to its success or failure.
Very often the grant aiding bodies will not have any opportunity to meet with those who are making the application and so their sole source of information about the proposal may be what is contained in the original application. For this reason it is important that the information provided is appropriate and, if possible, persuasive.
Preparing the Application
Many grant aiding bodies have special application forms which have to be completed. Include a brief summary of who you are, what project is and how much money you want. You could also give a brief introduction to your community, emphasising any particular constraints that there are such as remoteness or high unemployment. (You might want to attach a map showing your area and location).
Provide information about your organisation:
- its title, address, telephone contact and number;
- how it is organised, constitution, membership;
- its financial situation, including information about any other, or previous sources of grant funding;
- its overall objectives and its past achievements.
Give a clear account of what you will do with the money if your application is successful, and what you hope to achieve by spending it. Explain what your working methods will be and indicate how you will plan and control your budget.
Refer to the need that exists for the project and how there is a gap in provision from other sources, so that your are not seen to be duplicating existing services. (You might include any supporting evidence that is available, newspaper articles, statistics).
Explain why your organisations is best placed to carry out the project and, if possible, show that you have consulted with other organisations and have their support. (If you are co-operating with other agencies then say so.)
Some Other Tips
Try to make informal enquiries first to establish whether funds are still available, and if so what the conditions are for awarding them.
Remember that you will be competing with other organisations and other projects so try to convey the importance of the project and emphasising its value for money. Above all, try to fire the imagination of the person(s) who will be assessing the application.
Appearance is always important in these decisions so try to make sure that your application is well presented.
If possible get someone who has had no contact with the project to look at your application before you submit it. They may be able to spot jargon, inconsistencies or ambiguities.
Don't be tempted to underestimate your costs. You may find that you are subsequently unable to finish the project or that you have to skimp over important matters in ways that affect the overall success of the project.
