Funding Ready - What Makes a Good Funding Application: Tips and Tricks

Writing a funding application can feel daunting — but do it well and it’s simply about clearly telling your story in a way funders understand.

This practical workshop supports community groups, charities, faith groups and Community Interest Companies (CICs) in Lincolnshire to build confidence in writing strong funding applications. It focuses on what funders are really asking for, how to structure your answers and how to avoid the common mistakes that lead to applications being rejected.

Using real examples, the session breaks down application questions into manageable parts and shares practical tips to help you write clear, persuasive and funder‑focused responses.

What the session will cover:

• What makes a good funding application
• Understanding guidance notes, criteria and funder priorities
• How to clearly explain who you are and what your project will do
• Writing strong organisation and project descriptions
• Demonstrating need, outcomes and impact
• Practical good vs bad examples of application answers
• Writing clearly using plain English and active language
• Common dos and don’ts when applying for funding
• Using AI tools appropriately to support (but not replace) bid writing

By the end of the session, you will:

• Feel more confident writing funding applications
• Understand how to answer funder questions clearly and effectively
• Know how to avoid common pitfalls that weaken bids

Who the session is for

This session is ideal for:

• Community groups, charities, faith groups and CICs in Lincolnshire
• Organisations preparing to submit their first or early funding applications
• Trustees, committee members, staff or volunteers involved in bid writing
• Groups wanting to improve the quality of their funding applications
• Organisations that already have a project idea and basic requirements in place

Who the session is not for

This session may not be suitable for:

• Groups looking for one‑to‑one help to complete a specific application
• Organisations seeking detailed advice on live funding programmes
• Individuals applying for personal funding
• Organisations that already have significant bid‑writing experience and success
• Commercial businesses that are not CICs or social enterprises

If you want to improve how you tell your story and increase your chances of funding success, this session will be particularly helpful.

Other Funding Ready Sessions

This session forms part of a series of short bite-size courses around funding which are available to book on. The others in the series include:

• Key Requirements Explained
• Planning Your Project
• Establishing the Need
• Identifying Funding Streams