Page 24 - NAS Members Guide to Funding

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scaffolding poles and fittings donated from several local foundations, either free of charge or for a nominal fee.
scaffolding companies to make handrails. And then the
work began. We needed to clear and level two paths, Your first search should be via the Funding Routes
lay down the membrane, build the frames and steps outlined above, for example:
and then fill everything in with chippings. Up stepped
our ‘Head of Maintenance’ plotholder Clive who did • Your local community foundation website often has
an immense amount of work levelling and building, an online search facility to find funders whose money
assisted by a crew of plot holders to do some of the they distribute. You can usually also subscribe to a
ould be overview text relating to the n
heavy lifting, including hauling the chippings around the site. The work, done on and off and interrupted by Covid, took about two years to complete but has made a massive difference. The site is no longer a deathtrap.” By asking for help and being savvy about donations, as well as plot holders committing to labour voluntarily, the association now has a safer site for all.
Look up previous funding awards
What a funder chooses to fund is entirely up to them. The good news: funders do freely provide information about what they will fund (their ‘criteria’) for potential applicants to look at and weigh-up, this info is usually provided on the funder’s website. However, also knowing what a funder has already funded can help provide a general idea of what a funder may be likely to fund again. Funders do not have to share information about what they have previously funded but many do, including National Lottery. You can search for previous funding awards on 360 Grant Nav Do bear in mind that what funders are likely to fund does change over time and what they choose to fund is also dependent upon other factors too. Never assume that just because something similar to your idea was funded previously that it is guaranteed to be funded again and again.
SEARCH FOR GRANT-MAKING TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS
Until recently there were several free online searchable directories, but following budget cuts many have either closed or now charge subscriptions that are beyond the budget of allotment associations. However, there are still places you can search for relevant trusts and
regular email update about which funds are accepting applications.
• Your ‘local voluntary organisations support service’ may subscribe to the more expensive searchable funding databases. Local voluntary organisations such as allotment associations can usually access these databases free or for a nominal fee. You can usually subscribe to a regular email update about which funders are accepting applications.
Follow this up by also doing some free online searches yourselves:
• 360GrantNav is free to use and has a search facility. This is part of 360Giving website which has resources on how to find funders, information about previous funding awards. You can sign up to a free newsletter.
• The Charity Commission for England and Wales
and the Scottish Charity Regulator websites have an advanced search facility to help you find only those charities which distribute funds. For a useful guide on how to do this click here.
• Remember to keep talking with other allotment associations and other local voluntary groups in your area to learn which funders they have used. Continue attending local voluntary organisation networking events. Keep reading NAS Allotment
& Leisure Gardener members magazine for articles from members about funders they have had success with.
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