Getting funding for Charities Help

[elster]

I am trying to get funding in place for the air cadet squadron to buy a laptop, projector and camera.

I am a complete novice with this, I am wanting to look into grants/corporate sponsorship.

However where do you start? There is a book of available grants, which costs a fair bit with no money to start with.

Before I get started into my research could someone point me in the right direction if you have experience of this before. As I don't want to spend months applying to various funding to then find out there are easier ways.

Edited by elster on Wednesday 7th July 16:08

[bonsai]

If I was in your position, this is what I'd do.

I wouldn't go cap in hand to anyone. I would set up a service called Cadets for Hire (working title - would think of something flash and snappy for proper one)

You advertise the cadets services for oddjobbing in the local area. Essentially, you're getting them to earn their own funding.

You'd only need each one to do a few hours a month and soon you'll have plenty money. Get the cadets to distribute fliers in their local areas, churches, shops etc.

Of course this would require a central point of organisation (you) but could be quite a good revenue stream.

The biggest hurdle is getting the cadets on board, but this shouldn't be too hard because Air Cadets tends not to attract scum and also they should quickly realise it's for their benefit.

[elster]

bonsai said:

If I was in your position, this is what I'd do.

I wouldn't go cap in hand to anyone. I would set up a service called Cadets for Hire (working title - would think of something flash and snappy for proper one)

You advertise the cadets services for oddjobbing in the local area. Essentially, you're getting them to earn their own funding.

You'd only need each one to do a few hours a month and soon you'll have plenty money. Get the cadets to distribute fliers in their local areas, churches, shops etc.

Of course this would require a central point of organisation (you) but could be quite a good revenue stream.

The biggest hurdle is getting the cadets on board, but this shouldn't be too hard because Air Cadets tends not to attract scum and also they should quickly realise it's for their benefit.

We already do this.

The squadron we are at has some real hard working cadets often doing car parking and fund raising at at least two events a month.

The problem is we don't get enough funding for the amount of people we have in the squadron, hence looking elsewhere for this money.

[ClassicMercs]

See your profile says York.
Are you near a 'Yorventure' tip / waste facility.
They have been good for us (village hall).

[Andy_GSA]

www.awardsforall.org.uk - it distributes national lottery funds To community groups for applications between £300-£10000. I wrote a successful application for a similar project for a small local charity a few years ago, it's not a particularly onerous application process. You would need to show how the project would benefit the local community but that's not too difficult to do.

Edit to add - not sure how air cadet squadrons are structured - it might be that they aren't a qualifying organisation but it's worth a look. There are other lottery funds available, they're linked to from the awards for all website.

Edited by Andy_GSA on Thursday 8th July 00:38

[elster]

ClassicMercs said:

See your profile says York.
Are you near a 'Yorventure' tip / waste facility.
They have been good for us (village hall).

Well it includes Scout Huts. So I will get in touch this weekend when I have the time to knock some bits together.

[elster]

Andy_GSA said:

www.awardsforall.org.uk - it distributes national lottery funds To community groups for applications between £300-£10000. I wrote a successful application for a similar project for a small local charity a few years ago, it's not a particularly onerous application process. You would need to show how the project would benefit the local community but that's not too difficult to do.

Edit to add - not sure how air cadet squadrons are structured - it might be that they aren't a qualifying organisation but it's worth a look. There are other lottery funds available, they're linked to from the awards for all website.

Edited by Andy_GSA on Thursday 8th July 00:38

Thanks for that, will be looking into that one.

[jessica]

The funding books are expensive, however it may be worth trying to get an old copy of amazon or indeed loaning one from someone. Good luck ...I fundraise for my charity and for ever 500 letters we are lucky to get £1000