Writing Better Funding Bids

Online Zoom workshop held over two half-days: Monday 28th November 2022 10am-1pm & Monday 5th December 2022 10am-1pm

NB: Session one took place on 28th November. If  you wish to register just for session two, on 5th December, you will receive the recordings and slides for both sessions.

It’s no secret that competition for grants and funding is getting tougher. With some funders seeing a 65% increase in applications for each funding round it’s never been more important to make sure your application is as strong as possible.

Over two half-day training sessions we will take you through every step of the grant process, giving you the skills, tips and confidence you need to submit brilliant grant proposals.

Session 1 will help you to find the right funders for your library and project. We will help you to answer the following questions:

• How do I find funders for my organisation or project?
• What information should I look for when researching potential funders?
• Where can I find the information I need?
• How do I know which funders to prioritise so I’m using my time in the best possible way?
• How do I build relationships with funders before, during and after submitting a proposal?

By the end of the session you’ll know what to do before you start looking for funders, you’ll know what tools you can use to find potential funders for your work and you’ll know how to get all the information you need to be able to write the best possible application.

Session 2 will focus on how to write successful funding proposals. We will help you to answer these questions:

• What information should go in to a funding proposal?
• What happens to a proposal after it’s submitted?
• What are decision makers looking for when reviewing proposals?
• What are the common mistakes people make when writing funding proposals?
• How should I structure my proposal?
• What can I do to make my proposal stand out from the crowd?

By the end of the session you will come away with tips and ideas to improve your funding proposals, giving you and your organisation the best chance of success.

These sessions will be delivered by David Burgess, an experienced fundraiser and trainer who specialises in supporting cultural organisations to raise more money. David is Director Apollo Fundraising, chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Cultural Sector Network and curates a global conference for Grants and Major Donor fundraisers.

The two sessions will be delivered online, combining both tutor-led content and interactive exercises, giving you a chance to try out your new skills and knowledge in real-world situations.

Charges are £100 plus VAT for members, £150 plus VAT for non-members, and £50 plus VAT for students. Login to the CILIP website for discounted rates.