Short of Funds? Here’s How to Write a Strong Funding Proposal

At The Belforte Foundation we know how hard small charities and their teams of volunteers and staff work for the animals. We also know that funding and fundraising is an ongoing challenge for most organisations, and can be time consuming too.

So if you’re looking for more funds for ongoing costs, or a particular project, grant funding can be a great source of fundraising for small charities. Typically, many small charities tend to think that applying for grants is too time consuming, or indeed that they don’t have time to do grant proposals, but this isn’t the way to look at it.

Yes, grant funding may take a bit of time, and yes it’s true that definitely not all proposals will be selected for funding, but with larger amounts available in one go, ultimately it will be a lot quicker and more efficient than collections, fayres and other community fundraising activities. Plus, once you get the hang of it, most charities find that there is time for both!

At The Belforte Foundation, we receive many applications from amazing animal organisations every month. The projects and grant applications that stand out most clearly are not always the biggest or most polished applications, but the ones that present their case with clarity, purpose, and passion. We have purposely designed our application process to be quick and easy for smaller charities, because we know you want and need less time at the computer and more time with the animals, so the tips below are to help you for writing strong and effective proposals to other organisations – though all of the tips here can be utilised on our application form too.

Here are our top tips on how to write a strong funding proposal – one that gives your application the best chance of success!

Start with a Clear Summary:

Every strong proposal begins with a good, succinct summary. This section should tell the funder the following – in a brief way:

• What your project or funding application is for
• Who it helps
• What you’re asking for

In business this would be known as an ‘elevator pitch’. You should avoid too much details or technical things, and aim to answer the basics:

• What is the problem you’re addressing?
• How will your project provide a solution?
• What is the expected outcome?

This summary sets the tone for the rest of your proposal, so keep it focused and compelling so that funders read on (bear in mind funders get a lot of applications!).

Show the Funder the Need:

In this section you need to be thinking – why is your project necessary? This is where you provide evidence of the problem you’re addressing. If your organisation is working to rescue neglected farm animals or provide wildlife rescue, for example, in underserved regions, show us the scale and urgency of the issue.

Use your own data, testimonials, or case studies to highlight the need. The more you can demonstrate that your project is addressing a real, unmet need in animal welfare, the more compelling your application will be. Try to avoid anecdotal things – for example, saying: ‘rescues in Kent have got so much busier since COVID’ (which although may be true, a statement such as this is just anecdotal and has no evidential value), better would be: ‘We know that rescues in Kent have got much busier since COVID – in 2019 we helped 800 animals, in 2020 we helped 810 animals but in the last 3 years our average animals helped has risen by 20% per year to 972 animals per year on average. We have spoken to 3 other rescues in the area and they have also reported intake numbers going up between 10% and 30% per annum since 2021.’ You can see that the latter is so much more tangible and powerful.

Describe Your Project in Detail:

Once you’ve told the funder why your project is needed, explain exactly what you plan to do. What are your activities, who is involved, and how will the project operate? Be specific. Funders want to understand how their grant will be used and what it will help achieve.

If you’re building additional pens for example, tell us about the site, capacity, and timeline. If you’re launching an volunteer training program, outline the ideas about topics for training, who will deliver, how you will find volunteers for this etc.

Funders are also keen to see how you’ll monitor your progress and to understand what success looks like for your project and how will you measure it.

Provide a Realistic Budget:

One of the most common stumbling blocks in a proposal or application is an unclear or unrealistic budget. Break down the costs as accurately as possible. Show the funder that it is clear that you have arrived at your figures through research and quotes, and how every pound will be spent.

If you’re requesting partial funding from The Belforte Trust, let us know how the rest of the project will be financed. Transparency and realism go a long way so don’t underestimate nor overestimate. A well-considered budget shows us that you’ve thought your project through, an arbitrary ‘exact figure’ amount doesn’t show this – e.g. ‘£3000 to build a new aviary’ is vague and doesn’t give the funder confidence that the budget has been thought through or even accurately researched.

Share Your Track Record:

Whilst funders can and will sometimes support new initiatives, they also want to know that you’re capable of delivering. Tell us about your organisation, your team, and your past successes. What have you achieved so far? What experience do you and your team bring to the table?

If seeking funding for your first major project (e.g. expansion from home to a small animal hospital), highlight any relevant experience or partnerships that add credibility to your application, so the funder knows that their grant money has a very strong chance of really helping to deliver the end goal.

Keep it Authentic:

At the heart of every funding decision is a story. The most memorable proposals connect on an emotional level with the funder, so please don’t be afraid to let your passion for animal welfare shine through. Use real-life examples, photographs, or short stories that show the impact of your work, but avoid anything that is too negative or too much information that isn’t relevant to your work or proposal.

We know that applying for a grant can be daunting, but a strong proposal and funding is realistic if you take the time to prepare. Be clear, be honest, and stay focused on the difference your project will make. At The Belforte Trust, we are always looking to support projects that protect, rescue, and improve the lives of animals, and there are many other funders the same. So if you meet our criteria for funding and wish to apply or learn more, just click here.

And… Remember, Don’t Give Up!

As a final thought, and perhaps the most important one – income from grants is not guaranteed and to an extent is a numbers game. Many funders will not be in a position to give to everyone that applies and some will have very limited funds. So, before you spend any time, check and double check you meet the funder’s criteria to apply, and check the amount you are asking is in line with the minimum and maximum amounts that they fund. Otherwise you will just be wasting your time and we know that your time is so valuable to you, and for the animals you help.

Once checked, apply to as many as possible, but tailor your application to each where possible. There is nothing worse for a funder seeing cut and paste applications. Then finally…. prepare for rejection.

There is no shame in rejection, it is part of the process. Not everyone will reply back, so don’t let that worry you. But, tailored, well written proposals will yield results, so don’t give up and don’t feel despondent or disappointed if you don’t hear back or get rejected. Rejection will happen. But so will funding.