How do I find funding for a project?
There are many different ways to fund a project - a lot depends on what type of funding you are seeking, you could use sponsorship, grants, or even local council strategy money.
Sponsorship
If you able to demonstrate a real benefit then it's is possible to obtain sponsorship from the private sector. These finance arrangements normally form some form of joint venture.
Grants
For one off events or capital expenditure, then obtaining a grant from organisations, such as the Lottery have been most successful. Through Community Links Bromley, Friends have access to a comprehensive database of funders and criteria.
Community Links Bromley - www.communitylinksbromley.org.uk
Awards for All - www.awardsforall.org.uk/
The Big Lottery - www.lotteryfunding.org.uk
Strategy
Parks Strategy is the only budget driven mechanism Bromley has in place to provide large development and improvement works to parks. It has changed its focus in recent years and now targets only Friends Parks, or parks with serious anti-social issues. Parks Strategy visits up to two Friends Parks per annum, and spends approximately £50,000 on each park throughout the year. £50,000 may sound a lot of money, but it doesn't go far - new paths, new fencing... it soon disappears. This is why it is so important to work in consultation with the chosen Friends Group to ensure we get maximum results.>
A Beginner’s Guide to Successfully Securing Grant Funding
There is a wide range of support mechanisms out there in the funding world, including grants, loans,
equity investments, award schemes and many more. At first glance it may seem impossible to work
your way through the funding maze, and even when you have found the right source of support,
there is no guarantee that you will successfully secure the funding you require. In an ideal world,
you would draw up your project proposal, identify the appropriate funding body, complete the
application form, obtain your funding and start work on your project! Unfortunately, the reality is
that the demand for funding is high and competition is fierce. Making yourself stand out from the
crowd is a must to ensure success!
The aim of this article is to address the issue of successfully securing grants, from finding the right awarding body, to completing application forms and where to go for extra help. Click here to read more.