Page 16 - NAS Members Guide to Funding

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3. GRANT FUNDING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this section of the guide, your association will be able to:
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Understand and talk about what grant funding is
Tell the difference between independent and statutory funders
Navigate National Lottery funding programmes Recognise and navigate types of statutory funding
GRANT FUNDING
Grant funding can provide an opportunity to inject sums of money into allotment sites. Used wisely, grant funding can help to create new allotment sites or improve existing sites for the benefit of all members of communities everywhere.
Unfortunately, grant funding has a reputation for
being difficult to navigate. However, the good news
is that many funders have taken steps to simplify the application process. At the end of the day, funders want to give their money away!That said,there is certain knowledge that needs to be learned to be able to make a successful application and bring your association’s plan to life. This section of the guide brings that information in manageable chunks.
How does grant funding work?
Your association applies to a funder for an amount of money to fund your idea. There is usually an application form to complete and a set of rules (‘funding criteria’) that your association must meet in order to apply. There may be a requirement to report back to the funder about your outcomes. Your association’s award of funding is a legally binding agreement which you must adhere to.
Pros: Grant funding can raise amounts of money that are usually out of your association’s budget and reach. The partnerships and networking which you become part of through fundraising can also bring positive
PR and further useful connections for your allotment association.
Cons: Grant funding is competitive and there is
no guarantee of success. Match-funding is usually a requirement (see part 7). The funder has a lot of say in what you can/cannot spend their money on. This can risk your association’s independence. You may need
to keep records and send in reports. Your association could become over-reliant on grant funding (‘funding- dependency’), meaning you lose skills and enthusiasm for other methods of income generation.
TYPES OF FUNDERS
‘Funders’ describes a wide range of bodies which award money to good causes. This money is called “grant funding”. Funders can be put into two broad categories of ‘independent funders’ (trusts, charities, companies, individuals and philanthropists) and ‘statutory funders’ (local councils, central and devolved governments, other government bodies).
ESSENTIALS
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There are essential documents that need to be in place before an allotment association can
apply for grant funding. These relate to the association’s organisational status and policies. Please read “Essentials” (part 6) before your association starts looking for grant funding. NAS has a wealth of experience with Essentials and we can help your association so that you are ready to put your idea into action.
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