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

www.ifc.tcmgainpaulsingh@ifc.tc