Bid-Writing Seminar
Mena GainpaulsinghInternational Fundraising Consultancywww.ifc.tc
The key to successful applications… Good project design that
meets a real and defined need
Ensuring all elements of your proposal link together
Being SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Related)
Using a Logical Framework
Satisfying the funder’s needs
Delivering the Funder’s aims Outcomes funding Acting as the agent of the
Funder to deliver their objectives for them, or as their partner
Matching your objectives to theirs (do you know what your own objectives are?)
Achieving real social change – your aim
Having a clear project plan…
Identifying a need
Identifying the problem Severe social problem
with wider social implications
Local context Lack of alternative
services Identifying roots of a
problem Handling
preconceptions
Evidencing the need you have identified Evidence of the problem:
local/national/international strategies; research
Awareness of barriers to success that need to be overcome
Meeting beneficiary, local, national & organisational need
Evidence to show what interventions work (your own
Exercise – demonstrating the need (20 mins)
Beneficiary needs (who are they? What are their experiences? What support do they need? Barriers they face)
Local needs (lack of alternative services; do they reach the people they need to?)
National needs International issues (political situation,
demographics etc (STEP))Organisational need (what you need to run your
service) (SWOT)
Your project – Aims & Objectives Vision – your ultimate goal:
To achieve Equality for all; no one experiences discrimination or oppression
Mission – What you will do to achieve your VisionLegal Advice from specialistsEducation Information provision
SMART objectives/outcomes
Activities, Outputs & Outcomes
The Project: Type of activity Deliverables within
this Measurable Outcomes
Proving that the project will meet
the need identified
Exercise (20 mins)
Decide your VisionMissionObjectives/Outcomes
Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time Related
Indices of change (eg “more”, “increased”, “better” etc)
Monitoring your project
Monitoring mechanisms Registers, monitoring forms,
feedback Target related
Measuring outputs Measuring deliverables,
beneficiary numbers, geographical spread
Measuring outcomesMeasuring impactQualitative & Quantitative ; user satisfactionEvidence of reduction in a problem
Ultimately, how can you show you have made a real difference?
Exercise – Monitoring & Evaluating (15 mins)
Proving your outputsProving your outcomesOver what time-frameAre your Outcomes & Outputs SMART?
Your Costs (1) Direct project costs:
Revenue: Staff & Volunteer-related costs Venue hire (if appropriate) Publicity & Marketing Materials Professional fees Licences, registrations and permits Office costs; stationery Monitoring and evaluation Fundraising
Your Costs (2) Capital costs:
EquipmentFurnitureVehiclesPremises ITC equipment
Overheads:Appropriate percentage of organisational costs
eg rent, heating, lighting etcSalaries of core staff
Your Costs (3)
Include taxes where appropriate Costs in line with inflation, or with
increase in activity. Show where there is a shortfall.
Exercise – Working out your costs(15 mins)
Based upon the Outputs you will deliverEnsuring you cover ALL the costs relating to
itProving to the funder you have thought your
project throughBeing realistic, not optimisticGetting 3 quotes for external services
Some things to remember… Your USP:
Doing something different or better Reaching more people, reaching
different people Having Impact:
Getting the most impactful info in early eg uniqueness, seriousness of the problem
Showing wider difference the organisation makes
Empowerment, not pity
Thanks for listening!
Feel free to ask questions
Mena GainpaulsinghInternational Fundraising Consultancy