There are many grant-makers, including family trusts, corporate foundations, and lotteries. Each funder is different, and some are changing priorities due to increasing demands. Fortunately, there is free and paid advice available, along with training and funding bulletins. 

Top tips for getting started….  

• Prospecting: Research available grants and plan ahead. 

• Planning: Focus on the need your project addresses and its impact. 

• Sustainability: Plan how you’ll maintain the project after funding ends. 

• Writing: Avoid jargon and reflect the funder’s language. 

• Get Feedback: Always seek feedback, even if unsuccessful. 

Sources of further information   
Check out your local Community Foundation, local infrastructure organisations and Active Partnerships in your area. These may help you to link into local funding opportunities, to find local partners and identify how your work meets local needs and fits into local plans.  

Benefact Group 
The Benefact Group have created some free webinars to help with fundraising.  
There are other grant-makers that offer capacity building support so it’s worth looking out for these opportunities.  

British Equestrian 
The Participation Newsletter often has useful mentions of current opportunities relevant to the equestrian world. Click here to be added to the mailing list for this newsletter.  

Charity Excellence Framework 
A brilliant resource that emerged from the covid years and continues to evolve. Register free for a huge range of information, expertise and access to a ‘funding finder’ database. They have lots of innovative content including AI tools to help you start writing your funding applications.   

DSC 
Comprehensive training and resources on governance, fundraising and much more. Subscribe to the Online funding directories for a hefty annual fee of £450+VAT or check out their print publications. The new Guide to Major Trusts is £110.   

Get Grants 
Free newsletter/bulletins, free and paid-for training in grant fundraising and other disciplines of fundraising, fundraising support, ‘Meet the Funder’ events, Facebook community.  

Grin 
Grin offer a daily and monthly grants bulletin for £15 a year (single user) or £25 (unlimited users).  

Sported 
Sported is a UK wide charity ‘promoting fairness and equity for young people through grassroots sport and physical activity’. Membership is free and comes with many benefits. They are primarily a capacity-building organisation, but they sometimes have grants to distribute on behalf of their partners. Fundraising support includes regionalised funding bulletins, tools, and mentoring support to get ‘funding-ready’.   

NVCO 
Support for charities, including free membership for small charities with a turnover of under £30,000. Training, helpdesk and much more.  
Scottish groups can join SCVO. Membership is free for those with an income of under £100k. This will give access to the Funding Scotland database and other member benefits.  
Welsh groups can join WCVA. Membership is free to groups with an income of under £50k. 
In Northern Ireland, there is NICVA. Membership is free to groups with an income of under £20k.   

Sport England  
Offer small grants (up to £15k) and provide capacity building support and resources through the Movement Hub. This includes some useful stats that you can use in your funding applications to make your case for support. Also check out Buddle, which replaces Club Matters, with resources on all aspects of governance and operations.   

Trust Fundraising Hub 
Friendly Facebook peer support group – put your questions and share your experience with other trust fundraisers!  

For more resources, check out webinars, newsletters, and funding databases like Charity Excellence Framework or Get Grants. Reach out to Sam Dixon at sdixon@rda.org.uk for further support.