Before you start searching for grant funders for your project, or begin to complete that online form, there are 3 key areas you will need to have thought about.
1 – How do you know the project is needed? This is the consultation phase. Funders will want to see that you have asked your beneficiaries what they need. This might involve discussing what you offer, when the service should be available, or how your project could be improved. For a small project you could carry out this consultation on an ad hoc basis, getting feedback through conversations, but for larger projects you will need to think more strategically. How can you get feedback from current beneficiaries? How can you ask those you want to reach if they would like to engage with your charity? Do you have any data or statistics to demonstrate the need for what you are offering?
2 – What difference will the project make? This is when you plan your outcomes, the difference you expect to see. What change will the project make in the lives of your beneficiaries?
3 – How can you tell you have achieved your outcomes? This is the evaluation phase. You need to plan for evaluation right at the beginning of your project, as you will need to collect data from the outset. You will want to record numbers accessing your project, but even more important is how you will evaluate that you have made a difference. Plan carefully for how you will collect this information – it could be through surveys, review meetings, feedback from other professionals, observations, or focus groups.
While clarity in these 3 areas is important when applying for funding, it’s actually crucial for any project you want to run. Consultation, outcome planning and evaluation sit at the core of effective projects.
If you would like any support in thinking through these areas, please get in touch.
Effective Third Sector 