Funding Ready - Key Requirements Explained

Get the lowdown on the key requirements you need within your group to secure funding for your next community project.

Before you apply for funding, are you sure your organisation is ready?

This practical online session is designed to help community groups, charities, faith groups and Community Interest Companies (CICs) across Lincolnshire understand what funders expect before an application is even submitted — and why many bids fail at an early stage.

The workshop will take you step-by-step through the key governance, financial and organisational requirements that funders typically ask for, helping you get your “ducks in a row” and approach funding more confidently.

What we’ll cover:

• Common reasons funding applications fail
• What funders look for when assessing organisations
• Essential governance requirements, including legal structures, committees and governing documents
• Key policies and procedures you’ll need in place
• Financial basics funders expect, including bank accounts, accounts and budgets
• What should be included in a funding file
• Practical tips to help your organisation prepare for future funding opportunities

By the end of the session, you will:

• Understand what needs to be in place before applying for funding
• Feel more confident about your organisation’s readiness
• Know how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to rejections

This session is ideal for trustees, committee members, staff and volunteers who are new to funding or want to strengthen their organisation’s foundations before applying for grants.

This session is ideal for:

• Community groups preparing to apply for grant funding now or in the future
• Charities, including small and medium-sized organisations
• Faith groups delivering community or outreach projects
• Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee or shares
• Trustees, committee members and directors responsible for governance or funding decisions
• Staff or volunteers involved in fundraising, project planning or funding applications
• Groups that are new to funding or want to strengthen their foundations before applying

No prior funding experience is required — the session is suitable for beginners and those wanting a refresher on core requirements.

Who the session is not for

• Organisations looking for details of specific funding pots or live grant deadlines
• Groups seeking one-to-one support to complete an individual funding application
• Organisations that are already well-established and highly experienced in securing grant funding
• Individuals applying for personal funding (e.g. education or private support)
• Commercial businesses that are not operating as CICs or social enterprises

If you’re at an early stage of applying for funding and want to make sure your organisation is correctly set up, this session will be particularly valuable.

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:

• Planning Your Project
• Establishing the Need
• Identifying Funding Streams
• What Makes a Good Funding Application - Tips and Tricks