Funding toolkit for the voluntary sector in Nottinghamshire
We have created a funding toolkit for charities, community groups and voluntary organisations in Nottinghamshire [PDF] with useful tips and hints for successfully navigating the grant application process.
The goal of this toolkit is to help you find the grant most suited to your needs, providing advice about the best funding opportunities for your organisations, and to offer insights into common mistakes and pitfalls.
What is grant funding?
Grant funding is financial support provided by governments, grant bodies, foundations, trusts, corporations, or other organisations for specific projects or initiatives.
Grants do not need to be repaid, but they do need to achieve the aims that the money was provided for.
Grant funding cannot be used to pay for expenses that are not project-related costs. Always check the specific funder’s guidelines for detailed exclusions.
Key benefits of grants
Grants can fund essential resources like staff, equipment, or programme development which might otherwise be out of reach due to limited budgets.
Grants can enhance an organisation’s credibility, making it easier to attract future funding, partners, or volunteers.
Grants can encourage small organisations to focus on planning, improving their ability to define goals, measure impact, and operate more efficiently.
For many small organisations, grants represent an opportunity to grow and make a greater impact in their communities.
Identifying suitable grant opportunities
Some grant funders offer rolling grant programmes with no deadlines, and others have specific application periods that open and close at different times of the year or in cycles.
Some funders only provide grants based on specific regions. The timescales involved differ between funders.
In addition to online searches, you can subscribe to voluntary sector bulletins or contact your local Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) for valuable information, support and guidance.
It is highly recommended to subscribe to a funding search platform to help find relevant funding opportunities. Examples include: The Directory of Social Change (DSC), The National Lottery Community Fund and Charity Excellence - Find Charity Funding, Free Help & Resources.
Creating an application
You will need:
- evidence of need – explain the specific issues that the project aims to address within the community backed by data and personal stories that highlight the significance
- for the most up-to-date local data, stats and trends, go to Nottinghamshire Observatory
- the project description – outline the objectives, methodology, location, and timeline, being clear about how the project will be executed
- anticipated impact – the application should explain the expected benefits and outcomes for the target population
- a budget – include a realistic budget that justifies each expense
- capacity to manage the project – explain the organisation’s capability to implement the project successfully.
When writing your application, set aside time for revisions and proofreading to avoid any errors on your final submission. Try not to use jargon and only use acronyms if their full meaning is explained when first used.
Managing your funds
Effective financial management is essential for your project’s success and allows you to maintain accountability to the funder.
Carefully track all your expenses, making sure that they align with the approved budget and keep accurate records for auditing purposes.
Regularly review the budget to monitor spending and adjust as needed to avoid over or underspending your funds.
Submit financial reports according to the funder’s requirements and detail how the funds were used to make progress toward the project’s goals.
Other useful links
Nottinghamshire Insight is an assessment of the current and future health and social care needs of Nottinghamshire.
Nottinghamshire Association of Local Councils offers support, advice and training to local councils.
