Managing Expectations and Learning from Success/Failure

This article has been compiled from material written by Kate Smith (of Goosegrass Culture), for the Rebuilding Heritage training programme, ran by The Heritage Alliance.

Read the original article here.

Managing expectations in your own team

It strengthens solidarity and morale within your workplace if your colleagues have some understanding of the fundraising process and the likelihood of success. The strike rate for success in 2020 across all sectors was somewhere between 1 in 9 and 1 in 12. These odds can be considerably better with a strong application — but not every good application will succeed.

Scoring funding opportunities can offer a line of defence against colleagues who may be pressuring you for ‘quantity over quality’ when it comes to your funding bids. Sending off 80 applications in quick succession is a bad way to operate, and won’t bring in any more funding in the long run. If you can show your colleagues your strategy, they are more likely to accept a fewer-and-better approach.

Keep a record of success and failure

Finally, keep a record of your own strike rate. Over time, it will help you see where your organisation is getting the most support — for example regional funds, or educational angles. This helps you evolve an approach known to work over time, and avoid scattergun applications.

After your bid — ask why you succeeded

If your bid is successful, there are a few useful steps you can take with your funder:

• Ask them why your bid was successful (just as you might ask for feedback when a bid fails). It helps to know the strengths of your bid — and if your perception matches that of the funder. The story of why you succeeded will help in the future.
• Where appropriate, you might also ask who else you should approach — funders have their own networks, and will be able to advise on what will complement your bid.
• Also ask them what they need next from you — and when. And of course make sure you promptly fulfil those requests.

Reasons Why Funding Applications Succeed

1. The most fundamental reason: the application is complete and submitted on time, or earlier if possible.
2. Choosing the most appropriate funder for the work.
3. The need for the work, and the organisation’s suitability to address this need, is strongly proven.
4. The application has been thoroughly researched and reflects the funder’s needs and requirements.
5. An amicable working relationship with the funder during the application process: the funder is confident that their money will be in safe hands.
6. The application stands out against the others and the funder can see what the investment will achieve.
7. The budget is realistic and specific, and other or match funding is in place
8. The organisation has good governance, management, admin and financial procedures in place.
9. The applicant has a good track record in delivering funded projects.

Reasons Why Funding Applications Fail

1. Organisations are not eligible (e.g. because of their legal form, lack of charity status, size or income level, geographic area of operation, or other aspects.)
2. Organisations or projects come across as poorly structured/planned.
3. Organisations or projects aren’t represented clearly and concisely on the funding application.
4. The applicant has failed to demonstrate they have read the funder’s criteria and understood their focus.
5. Appropriate processes (eg. monitoring and evaluation) or policies (safeguarding, diversity) not in place.
6. A problematic budget, and/or unconvincing financial management procedures.
7. Missing deadlines.
8. Forms or proposals that are incomplete or illegible.
9. Problems with supporting documents, which might be missing, incomplete, out of date, or contradict information in the application.
10. Asking for too much or too little money.