Looking for grants? Let's get you started.
Knowing where and how to start with grants can feel overwhelming.
Fear not, we're here to help! Let's take a moment to discuss how and where to begin. We will then explore simple steps to help you confidently search and apply for grants.
Understand your needs
- Consider your WHY - why do you need funding? What is your big, hairy, ambitious goal?
- Next, jot down your wishlist of future projects.
- For each project or initiative, write down a list possible expenditures for your projects, for example: equipment; venue hire; catering; program coordination; overheads; marketing costs; etc.
Some of these costs may not be eligible for grant funding (for example, operating costs are often excluded in grant guidelines) but they are still important to be aware of as you consider the feasibility of each project.
Login to search for grants with The Grants Hub
Remember your big, hairy, ambitious goal? Think about how you could categorise it. For example - are you working towards outcomes in education, health, environment, technology, or something else.
We always suggest starting with a broad search first, then narrow your search accordingly.
You can refine your search with:
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Location, i.e. where you operate or where your project will be delivered. You can opt to include National grants as well as your state(s) to see all relevant grants that you may be eligible to apply for based on location.
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Topics, including e.g. Arts, Community, Disability, Education, Health & Wellbeing, Older People, etc. Our expert grants researchers categorise each grant in our Directory by Topic to enable you to shortcut your search based on your interests.
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Keywords, including e.g. mental health, social enterprise, women, etc. A keyword search will enable you to quickly hone in on grants that align with your specific objectives and/or target audience
- Search Closed as well as Open grants under Grant Status. You might see something relevant that may be available again in the future.
Other search filters you can use in the Grants Directory include: grant amount; who can apply; DGR status; and co-contribution requirements. Remember - you can use these filters to refine your search, but if you go too narrow, you could miss a great opportunity.
Use the Features available to you
- Save your search to trigger Tailored Grant Alerts so that you receive email notifications about every new or updated grant that meets your search criteria
- Add grants to your Favourites list to keep information in one place and track new rounds
- Check out our Grants Calendar if you want to receive closing date reminders and plan ahead
- Compare grants to get a feel for what opportunities you may have a better shot at - and focus your resources accordingly.
Grants are added every day, so when you use the features included with your membership, we can best help you keep track of grants so that you don’t miss out on future rounds.
Make sure you are eligible
When you find a good grant opportunity, click the link to the funding provider’s website and read their guidelines in full to ensure you are eligible and that your project aligns with their program’s objectives.
Get in touch with the funding provider using the contact details on their website or in their grant program guidelines. Funding providers would prefer you spend five minutes on a call/email with them to clarify, rather than you spending five hours writing an application that does not fit their objectives.
Plus, you will be building a relationship with the funding provider that could help you succeed with your application.
When you find the right grant
- Make sure you leave ample time to complete the application before the grant deadline
- It’s a great idea to have someone else such as a colleague, friend, or fellow committee group member read your draft grant application - catch grammatical errors, miscalculations, and opportunities to strengthen your case for support before you hit submit
- Once you hit the submit button, cross your fingers and give yourself a pat on the back!
Hopefully, you will hear from the funding provider soon - and if not, you can reach out to them for an update, appreciating any timelines they provide for the grant program. Be mindful that it can take weeks - or months - for some funding providers to conclude their assessment process and notify applicants of the outcome.
💡 One final tip: when you know the outcome of your application, take a few minutes to consider what worked well and where you may have room to improve. This will help you strengthen future applications and get ahead with grants.
Finally, let us know when you are successful! We love celebrating wins with our community.