Planning is critical to success for getting the grants you want!
Previously we have spoken about the five main issues when applying for funding or grants within the arts sector. The main reason for failure is the lack of preparation given to the application. In the next five posts, I would like to expand a bit more on each of them
The five steps were first to identify which grants you would like to apply for well before their submission dates and to leave any grants with a submission date within the next two weeks. Secondly, look to see if the grant applies to you. check out the award details. Thirdly, look at the amount of the award. Financially, does it fit with what you are doing? Fourthly, read the application form and make a checklist of all the supporting documents or information needed to apply. Finally, fifthly, step five asks that when you come to write the application, read the application carefully and make sure you you refer to the items mentioned in the remit of the award.
More about step one
Let us go back to step one and look at it more thoroughly.
The first piece of advice is to identify which grants you would like to apply for well before the submission deadline. It would help if you determined what grants are available, when are the submission dates, how much you want to apply for, and your realistic chances of success.
Let us backtrack for a second
Let us backtrack slightly for one second and look at something else you should consider, well, two things in fact. Firstly, how much in grant funding would you like throughout the year? I say this because applying for 10-15 grants throughout the year is fine, but do you have the capacity to complete the work in the given period if you received 10-15 grants or even only two-thirds of them, 7-10 grants? It is pointless applying for every grant, you need to tailor your applications to the ones that you are most likely to get and devote your attention to them.
Remember time is finite
Another issue you need to consider is the effect on your time applying for 10-15 or even 5-10 grants. Can you afford to devote around one week per application? If you apply for 10 grants then you can safely assume that it will take you 10 weeks of work, or one-fifth of a year, just to grant applications, time taken from your artistic practice. Again, this time is not in one solid block but throughout the year and again if you are successful with any applications, there has to be enough time to complete the work required for the award, do your own work, keep applying for further grants and complete the reporting required from other successful awards. Remember time is finite.
Work out a plan and project manage it thoroughly
So going back to the main first issue we can see that we are trying to work out a plan and project manage that plan. We are building a kind of financial and resource template so that we know what we have to do, when we have to do it and what we are trying to achieve. Developing this mind set is critical to applying for grants. It might seem like a lot of work but at the end of the day it saves you a lot of headaches, rushing, and the realisation that you do not have enough time.
Planning is critical to success
Doing this also allows you to look at what resources or help you need to complete the application form. It also allows you to build a risk register and a project plan. It also allows you to develop a resource section on your computer or in the cloud that you can reuse and allows you to follow-up with funders as you have all the application details and a copy of the application in a central place. Planning is critical to success.
Identify and plan well in advance
Remember rule number one, it is critical that you identify your grant well in advance, place the dates for submissions on a calendar, and work backwards, looking at what you need to complete to achieve that submission date.
Help with your applications and planning
Ian Oliver
Head of Operations
Head of Operations at Letcombe Production I have been working in the arts and culture sector for over 20 years in Ireland. I am passionate about business development for artists and creatives as well as building totally inclusive societies.
Letcombe Production
The Digital Agency For Arts & Cultural Organisations
Letcombe Production is dedicated to the arts, creative and social enterprise sectors. Our website has dedicated reels on running your creative or artistic practice as a business, articles and opportunities for artists. In addition, we can organise digital media, marketing, project management, grant writing, application assessment, and tools to help you run your creative and artistic practice.
Working predominantly with arts and social enterprises, Letcombe Production can assist in all getting projects from idea to distribution. We can look after any size of project.
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