About the session
Date: 3 and 4 June 2025
Time: 10:00-13:00
Format: Via Zoom
Over two zoom sessions, the training will provide helpful information and tips to build skills in writing strong applications for funding – whether grants from trusts/foundations or statutory bids.
With practical exercises to improve writing, budgeting, and evaluation skills, anyone can produce a strong application provided they understand what is required, undertake thorough research and are tenacious. The sessions will explore the key skills needed to write strong applications and effectively communicate about your work to successfully achieve funding. Sessions will cover the following areas:
- The latest trends in Trust and Foundation fundraising, ACE National Lottery Project Grants, and National Lottery Heritage Grants
- How to articulate a strong case for support and build an effective fundraising Case for Support
- How to write persuasively to win funding
- How to respond to funding criteria
- How to research funders
- How to prepare effective budgets
- Understanding the evaluation process to show impact
- How to build relationships with funders for the long-term
The sessions will include actual examples from fundraising bids, and some practical exercises using breakout rooms.
Who should attend?
This course is for:
- Fundraising and development staff and/or volunteers working in museums who wish to gain helpful tips and are looking to refresh their knowledge in this area.
- Staff and volunteers who are new to writing fundraising proposals.
What will you learn?
Learning objectives to be covered and skills attendees will take away with them include:
- How to craft a strong case for support and write persuasively to win funding
- An understanding of how to write without using jargon
- An understanding of how funders assess proposals, responding to funders’ criteria, and current trends in their giving
- How to develop clear budgets for fundraising
- How to build evaluation into your proposal to demonstrate impact
How does this meet the Accreditation standard?
5 Plan ahead and have the resources to deliver your plan
About the trainer
Fern has been mentoring and advising colleagues in the arts for many years, both as a regular trainer for Arts Funding & Philanthropy programme, Arts Council England and as a lecturer in Fundraising for City University of London’s MA in Cultural Management. She has worked in many senior development roles, most recently as Director of Development with Birmingham Royal Ballet and has raised millions for the sector. She mentors for the Mercury Creatives programme and Royal Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Raise programme. Fern holds a MA Arts Management from City University, London and is a full member of the Royal Chartered Institute of Fundraisers.