Community Foundation Reply

onthevergeofameltdown

I submitted an application form from my community foundation for a grant for a local football team that i am setting up and this is the reply.



I have read through your form and would like the opportunity to offer some support with it – I have listed below some of the points I would like to clarify:
· I think that the group need to expand on their answers particularly in relation to ‘need’. What I mean by this is you have not really explained how your members and beneficiaries are disadvantaged apart from the fact that they don’t have anything to do at weekends. More information about their particular backgrounds or employment/educational status
· Your group have indicated on the form that their structure is that of ‘Community Interest Company’. I think this is incorrect and that the group are an ‘unincorporated club or association’ – I can help you clarify this


· The benefits and outcomes question could also be expanded. This question asks about the benefits of the funding, and wants to know about the wider benefits for the members and the community. This could be health benefits; diversionary activities; team building; learning new skills etc






could anyone please help me give some answers so i have the best chance of being successful. thanks in advance OTVOAM

paddyrg

We don't know the answers though, we're not in your club. They are saying you're a group of players which is great, and that you play because you're bored (again great), but that the team is not providing a greater social good. Does everyone live in a tower block and this is the only grass they ever see? Does having the club provide greater race relations in an intolerent area? Are you getting kids off crack and into football, with the club replacing the gangs they were destined for. How will you spend the money? Does the clubhouse also benefit the hockey club, the WI and the scouts?

jexygirl

Congratulations on what you are trying to do. The sender of the message, I think, appears quite positive, and is probably nudging you in the direction that is likely to help, without being able to tell you what to write.

I think that where they ask you to clarify need, they want to know how this club will help people, and why you NEED funds. Which imho also ties in with them asking you to expand on the benefits and outcomes question.

Incoming waffle!!!! You have been warned!:p

I would explain that:

you intend for the club to offer free training / coaching in a sporting activity in return for commitment from them, to people that would otherwise not have the opportunity ( as paddy says you might expand here about lifestyle / area / race relations /lack of opportunity / backgrounds etc - anything that would support your case and helping to get them off the streets or out of whatever situation they face) .
This venture could also encourage family involvement and support, use of local facilities as well as potentially boosting local community spirit and pride, whilst at the same time improving fitness, teaching discipline, self control and teamwork to the participants. All vital skills and experiences that will continue for life.
The club is needed to give the participants a focus that they otherwise don't have, and help promote these core skills and values as there is little or no other option for them.

In order to set up this new group, despite volunteer help and commitment, there are monetary implications, which the families and volunteers simply are not in a position to help with, hence your application.
At the bare minimum you require practice balls, nets, water bottles, in some cases to be able to help with buying boots etc (list all your potential items needed and list cost to show you have researched it thoroughly) and finally, in order to reward the hard work, once established, you intend to enter local leagues - which not only support the community and local area, bringing people together, but give the group aims and goals to reach (excuse the pun!) for which you would need a full matching kit to qualify / enter.

I would also add that whilst you are pursuing other avenues and trying to involve local buisnesses to assist with start up costs, in the current climate you understand that money is tight for everyone, and any help would be of immense benefit to the club. This tells them that you are not just asking them, and if they say no then you won't bother - you are determined to do this somehow whatever happens.

Something along these lines at least might help! We used to sponsor a local team at the old pub. We paid for kit and somehow I also ended up washing it every week! Its also worth writing to local buisnesses for ANY help, be it someone to wash kit, someone to supply free oranges for half time, a fiver donation to help with new balls, whatever.

Its all about saying the right things, "buzz words" rather like altering your CV to fit a job description so if needed re read the grant page and see what buzz words they are using and start your sentences with them. If they say for example that they offer grants to people that have blonde hair - start the sentence with "of our 20 blonde haired players..." iyswim - they are offering the grants for a reason, make sure you are the reason.

Best of luck if you managed to read this far without your eyes bleeding and hope you get the club up and running.

Jex

Savvy_Sue

You seem to have some very good responses there already, however I suggest you also take a quick look at this thread. The link to the Free FunderFinder software could be very helpful for this and other applications. Over the right hand side of that page are links to a couple of free programs: Apply Yourselves and Budget Yourselves, they're very basic but they get you answering the right questions!