Securing funding Tom Franklin Franklin Consulting Tom@franklin-consulting.co.uk

Introduction Writing better bids Getting inside the funder’s mind

Better bids make funded projects Read the ITT Read the ITT (again) Really read the ITT!

Do you really want to bid? Are they asking for something you actually want to do? Does it meet your strategic needs? Do the timescales match yours? Are the funding levels appropriate? Would it be a relief if the bid is not funded? Can you match the assessment criteria Most bids are not funded

Read the ITT AGAIN

Partners Do you need them Does the funder require partners Management overhead What do the bring? Is it a real partnership? Does the funder require partners Essential (eg EU) Desirable Tolerated

Writing the bid / tender (1) Make the markers life easy Obey any rules Keep the ITT beside you Answer their questions What are the assessment criteria? Use them as headings Make sure that you meet them Write clearly about each one

Writing the bid / tender (2) Read the ITT Amend the response so that it matches it Give it to someone else to mark using the criteria in the ITT Revise the response Submit it on time, in the requested format

Understanding the funder Different needs Fame Understanding the issues Generic solutions Failure may be a success (or not)

 Its  your problem  Timescales Budget Technology Staff leave Do they match What happens when they don’t Budget Overspend Budget cycles Technology Technology updating Staff leave After the end of the project