Bid Writing Support Programme

Isabel has worked with major international charities and small grassroots community organisations, supporting  young and older people, BAME, LGBTQIAA and other minority communities, people with learning difficulties, disabilities and physical illness, enduring social and economic disadvantage, rural communities, women’s groups, refugees and asylum seeker. She has advised government departments on fundraising and has served on the board of a number of charities.

Expectations

What you can expect from us

The Clare Foundation will provide up to 2 days of our Bid Writer’s time.

We will provide:

1. A robust generic funding case based on the information you provide us. This can then be tweaked by you to meet specific funder’s criteria.
2. A specific fundraising target based on your accounts and project details provided to us.
3. An average of 5 appropriate funders to whom you can apply and whose criteria you meet, in principle, with written guidelines on how to apply for each fund. These will be influenced by:

• Best fit to criteria
• Largest potential grant from funders
• Proximity to deadline (when funders meet to agree funding, etc,)

Isabel will provide up to 1 day for the reviewing and editing of grant applications for the 5 funders above.

What we expect from you

1. To meet the criteria detailed below.
2. To provide accurate information at each stage of the process. 
3. To promptly provide any additional resources requested.
4. To complete and submit for Isabel’s review up to 5 funding bids based on the generic funding case provided. 
5. To submit each grant application yourself.
6. To inform The Clare Foundation when you have submitted applications and when you have received a result. 
7. To include The Clare Foundation in any publicity surrounding a successful grant application.

Criteria for programme engagement

• A not-for-profit organisation, ideally a registered charity
• Minimum £10,000 grant required – no max although unlikely to support large capital projects due to their long-term fundraising requirements
• Not a government, religious, educational or political organisation or a social enterprise 
• The organisation must have Buckinghamshire based beneficiaries
• An operating track record of at least two years
• An organisation looking for funding to support longer-term projects ideally 3 years+
• Minimum of 3 months / maximum of 12 months reserves

If you are accepted onto the programme, you will need to be able to provide/show: 

1. You have at least 3 trustees or governors, ideally 5
2. Your accounts for a minimum of 2 years
3. Copy of your constitution or governing documents

If you do not meet some of the above criteria, we are happy to speak to you in advance about it as it doesn’t mean you are automatically excluded. In this case, please email info@theclarefoundation.org.

Process

Step 1

• Complete the Expression of Interest form below. This form has been designed to help you create a fundraising case regardless of whether or not you are accepted onto the programme. If you are unsuccessful, you still have a robust document to help you with your own grant applications in future.

The Clare Foundation will assess your EOI to ensure that our bid writer, Isabel White, can add value to your bid writing process.

Step 2

• If successful, complete a longer Proposal Form (around 5 typed pages). 
• Isabel will create a robust generic case and fundraising target;  and will identify on average 5 suitable funders.

Step 3

• Use the generic case to prepare up to 5 funding bids (from funders above).
• Submit these bids to Isabel who will spend up to one day reviewing and editing.
• Submit your grant applications and wait for a response.
• Share your result with The Clare Foundations for our records.

Please download, complete the form and email it to info@theclarefoundation.org.