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Generating Income

Guidance on securing grants and funding opportunities for your projects and initiatives.

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What is grant funding?

Grant funding is one component of a broader, strategic approach to fundraising. Effective fundraising involves securing diverse financial contributions to sustain an organisation’s operations.

 

A comprehensive understanding of grant funding is essential for registered charities, as well as for many CICs and community groups that depend on external funding to sustain their operations. The ability to strategically identify suitable funders and craft compelling, well-structured applications significantly enhances an organisation's likelihood of securing financial support.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

To ensure long-term financial resilience, it is crucial to develop multiple fundraising streams, mitigating the risk of over-reliance on any single source of income.

 

Fundraising can take many forms, but are popularly grouped in the following categories:

 

Community and General Public - This includes challenge events, sponsorship, etc.

 

Grants - This includes grants for capacity-building, projects and general expenditure.

 

Trading - This includes selling goods and bidding for Tenders.​

Procurement vs. Tendering

People often get confused with the difference between Procurement and Tendering.  Here are some definitions that may be helpful.

 

Procurement

Encompasses the overall process of acquiring goods and services needed for a project.

 

Tendering

The term tender means a formal invitation to trade under the terms of offer and the documents associated with that offer.

 

A Contract

A contract is, generally speaking, a legally binding agreement between parties, where there has been offer, acceptance and consideration.

 

Many organisations that offer tenders will advertise those tenders on specific portals.

You may also need to be registered as a supplier in order to apply for a tender, and this may be worth doing ahead of time.

Friday Funding Bulletin

Our Funding Bulletin provides people with a chance to have a quick overview of recent funding opportunities that may be relevant to their organisation on a weekly basis. We ensure to provide a wide variety and diverse range of funding options for the entirety of the VCFSE, including CICs, CIOs and Social Enterprises.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

To receive reminders of our weekly Funding Bulletins and be the first to hear about local funding opportunities, become a member today!​​

to benefit the most from our resources, experience, networks and support.

Local Funders

Funding Portals

If you're looking for funders for your organisation, here are some excellent, free grant portals to take a look at.

Tendering & Contracts

Find key resources, guidance, and opportunities to support your tendering and contract needs.

Wirral Council

NHS Cheshire & Merseyside

UK Government

Universities

Tender Portals

A tender portal is an online platform where organisations publish procurement opportunities, allowing suppliers to view, bid for and manage tenders. It streamlines the tendering process by providing a centralised space for submissions, evaluations and contract awards.

General / Government

Combined Authority & Wirral Council

NHS

Fundraising

Discover essential tools, tips, and opportunities to support your fundraising efforts.

Community Fundraising Platforms

Crowdfunders

Loans for Charities

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