Youth Music - BongoClub.org.uk

A guide to securing funding for music-making projects in early years settings

It can be difficult to find the time and resources to include music-making activities in early years settings. Securing funding for a specific project is one way to ensure that good quality, regular activities can be provided for children, covering costs such as instrument purchase and recruiting an early years musician to provide the sessions.

Fundraising is all about selling good ideas to people who have the means to make it happen. Writing a good application is just one way for you and your organisation to make a strong case for support. A good application will also considerably increase the chance of you getting those vital funds. Think about the hundreds, possibly thousands, of requests funders receive each year, and turn down. Not because they are always bad ideas, but because the proposal is poorly written.
 
There is no magic formula for writing a winning application but by following these simple basics, you can significantly improve your chances of fundraising success.
 

1. Unique Selling Points - Why is your work different to everything else that is out there and why is it so important that your project gets funded.
2. Facts & Figures - This will back up your case considerably. Funders will be more likely to engage with you if they can clearly see what the problem is.
3. Your Organisation - Show that you are the right people to tackle the issue. Does your organisation have a successful track record in its field?
4. Planning - Be clear about what you will do, how you will do it, when it will happen and who is responsible for it. Remember that you will also need to report back on the impacts of your work to funders if you are successful.
5. Budgets - This also tells part of your story, so it needs to be clear and comprehensive. You should also include any income a project may generate.
6. Your Donors - Research them thoroughly. You would be surprised at how many applications have to be thrown away by funders because they do no match their funding criteria. Make sure your - is also relevant in terms of size and/or resources. And give them all the info they want, in the format they want it and when they want it.
7. Back Up Literature - Examples include promotional material, brochures, press cuttings etc. These can significantly enhance an application but depending on the funder you may not be required to send this additional information in the first instance. CHECK POINT 6!!

Youth Music First Steps Open Programme

(Please note: Youth Music Open Programmes are currently closed and will reopen later on in 2009. For more info, visit Youth Music's Looking for funding pages).MusicLeader.net

More information about securing funding can be found in the 'Project Management' section of the MusicLeader.net website.