Funding Guides

Application Check List

Making an application to a charitable trust

Once you have drafted a funding application, you should try to step back and look at it critically. Check it against the questions below. You may find it helpful to ask someone who has not been involved in writing the application to go through the same process.

The grant-making body - are they the appropriate donor?

• Do their policies and practice (if you know them) match up with your appeal? (if not, why should they break their own rules?)
• Are you asking for an appropriate amount? (What’s their income? What size grants do they make?)
• Is the timing right? (When do they need the application by? When do you need the money by?)

The actual application - is it

• Addressed to the right person?          
• Personalised? or looks like a circular?
• Most recent correspondent, spelt correctly?
• Name of the funding body spelt correctly?
• Most recent address?

Overall impression of your draft - is it

• Too long / too short?
• Too glossy / too scruffy?
• Legible?

Style

• Is it too full of jargon, acronyms or abbreviations?
• Does it assume they're idiots?
• Does it assume they're experts?

Content - does it include

• Who you are and what you do? (clear and concise? or pages of trivia?)
• What your group's legal status is?
• What you need the money for and why? (what will it buy; who will benefit)
• How much and by when?
• How you'll evaluate the way you spend the grant? (if appropriate)
• What else you're doing to raise money?
• Who they can contact for more details?

Supporting material - have you included

• Accounts? a budget? (what message are you giving if they're not included?)
• Annual report, press cuttings, leaflets (too much?)
• Everything the application guidelines have asked for?

General impression of the project and your group given by application

Is it businesslike? Or 'well-meaning but woolly’?

For more specific help from RVA’s Funding Advice service email advice@rva.org.uk 

May 2011

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