Big Competition for the Big Lottery Fund

With statutory cuts, a competitive fundraising environment, and a stagnant economy, how to get Lottery money seems to be the question every fundraiser is asking. A great question!

Funding lottery I was speaking to someone from the BLF recently who told me competition for Lottery funding is fiercer than ever. Last year the BLF received 60% more applications for funding than in the previous year.

Two fundraisers recently told me that they had their first stage proposal rejected by the BLF. When they called for feedback they were told that the project and the proposal were strong. One of the fundraisers was told by BLF that his failed application was very strong bar a couple of minor errors and would have easily passed the first round had he submitted it six months ago.

So should you still include lottery funding bids in your mix? Well I believe you should. But you will need to make sure that the project and your application are first class.

Reaching Communities
I'm currently working on a Reaching Communities application for a client. I spoke to BLF this week to talk through the project. They confirmed what we’d heard previously that if you apply for a smaller grant (£40,000 or less), you may well have a higher chance of being successful than if you apply for a major grant. The process is also simpler and the turnaround time quicker.

My advice if you want Lottery funding? Get professional help from an experienced fundraising professional. And if that's not an option, at least get someone external to critique your application before submitting it.

Sarah Squire MInstF(Cert), Director and Senior Consultant