The worldwide web is a powerful tool for finding out information. Looking for funding sources for your community project is something that the internet can make easier. Many of the national funding sources invite first interest via the web or by email, and application forms are available for download.
The Big Lottery is probably the body which offers the widest range of grants to community projects - http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ and you can download an initial proposal form that can then be sent for assessment.
For more specific grant sources, try entering a simple search into a search engine. I entered "community grants scotland" and got the following number of results:
Google http://www.google.co.uk/ 228,000
Ask Jeeves http://uk.ask.com/ 714,700
MSN http://www.msn.com/ 5,070,000
Yahoo http://uk.yahoo.com/ 7,060,000
Of course sifting through all these pages would take forever, so try to narrow down your search by including keywords referring to the detail of your project - for example "children", "ICT", "food", "environment". Selecting pages from the UK only before you hit "search" will also give fewer results.
The Community Toolkit (if available in your area) is regularly updated with local and national funding news - see http://www.slcvo.org.uk/ctoolkit
See also the Rural Gateway http://www.ruralgateway.org.uk for regular funding updates.
What is your experience with accessing funding online? Do you know of any funding bodies that accept online applications? Do you think the internet makes it easier or just even more confusing? Post your comments!
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3 comments:
Here's another "one-stop shop" for community funding news: http://www.grantsonline.org.uk/?gclid=COrz_7qjspACFQXalAodgEm9Fg
...However, you need to register with Grants Online and can then receive a free 7 day trial, but after that it's going to cost you!
One of the workshops planned for the e-Communties event to be held at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on 7-8th March 08 will be about funding - where to go to get suitable funding for your ICT project and how to make an effective application. Skye & Lochalsh CVO offer free help with sourcing funding and can assist with all your funding questions. Why not give them a call 01478 612921 or email info@slcvo.org.uk
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