Grants & Funding -
Hints & Tips

Eligibility:
Can the funder give grants to groups like yours?  For example, do they only give money to registered charities?

Criteria:
Is the funder interested in the sort of work you do and the people you do it with?

Exclusions:
Does the funder state that they will not or cannot fund you or your work?

Timescale:
When do the applications have to bein by and when will you find out about the funders decision?  How does this fit in with your needs?

Difficulty of application method:
How many hoops will you have to jump through to get the money?  Will it be worth it?

Requirements after you get the grant:
What will you be asked to do by way of monitoring and reporting if this funder gives you a grant?  Will it be worth the amount of money you can raise from them.

Good match with your aims:
Would applying to this funder lead you away from your original aims, or even compromise them?  For example, accepting a grant form the Heath Authority may make it difficult for a group for people with mental health problems to press for services, which meet their needs.

Before you send off your application:
Let someone read your application that is not connected with your group.  If they don’t understand your answers or need to ask more questions, so will the funder

VAST send out a directory of funding opportunities in our weekly bulletin and in our bi-monthly newsletter. If you would like to receive this information please download & return our Membership application form which is available from our membership page.

VAST can help you with setting up a charity in Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding areas and can advise & support your organisation with charity grants, charity funding, charity applications, charity tenders, charity fundraising, etc.