Grants
Grants: Trusts and Foundations
Welcome to Together CSR, where we specialise in helping charities, CICs, sports clubs and not-for-profit organisations unlock the power of grants through professional bid writing, fundraising strategy, income generation and expert grant writing services.
What is a Grant?
A grant is a form of financial assistance, typically offered by trusts, foundations, or government bodies, aimed at supporting charitable projects, initiatives, or services. Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid, making them a valuable income source for charities and organizations working for social impact. Grants can cover a range of needs, from operational costs to specific project funding, and are crucial in enabling charities to achieve their mission.
Why are Grants an important and useful form of income?
Grants provided by trusts and foundations are a key income source for many UK charities. These organisations offer a significant portion of the sector’s financial support, with thousands of trusts and foundations distributing billions each year. This funding is often highly impactful, allowing charities to tackle specific issues, reach underserved communities, and create lasting change. It is typically the largest form of income of a charity and can allow an organisation to receive thousands of pounds in a single piece of work, often making it one of the most time-effective forms of income generation.
Strengths of Grants as a Form of Income
For UK charities, grants from trusts and foundations are a dependable and structured income stream. The strengths of grants include:
- Non-Repayable Funding: As grants don’t need to be repaid, charities can focus on maximizing their impact rather than managing debt. Though, be careful of staying within the grants terms and conditions as this will make the organisation liable for repaying the grant!
- Flexibility: Grants may cover a range of expenses, including salaries, overheads, and project costs, helping charities to remain sustainable. Again, be mindful of staying compliant with the grants terms and conditions.
- Mission Alignment: Many trusts and foundations have a clear focus, enabling charities to find funders with shared goals and values.
- Long-Term Potential: Grants often come with opportunities for long-term partnerships, fostering a relationship of ongoing support and mutual growth.
How Charities Can Utilise Grants
Charities can leverage grants to fund essential programs, expand outreach, enhance services, and strengthen internal capacity. A structured approach to grant funding is essential to ensure sustainability. Charities should identify and apply for grants that align closely with their goals and core activities. This can include grants for operational costs, training, equipment, or even new pilot projects to extend their reach.
Time Commitment: How Long Does it Take to Write a Grant?
Writing a grant application is a detailed process that often requires thorough planning and research. On average, it can take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to complete a strong grant application, depending on the size and requirements of the funding body. This includes everything from gathering financial data and outlining the project to writing a compelling narrative that aligns with the funder’s criteria.
At Together CSR, our skilled team of grant writers and bid writers are here to streamline this process, bringing expertise and efficiency to your applications.
We can do this from a Grant Assessment basis, whereby you may already have the capacity to write the bids, but want an expert to cast their eyes over them, through to a fully outsourced bid and grant writing service.