May: Resources - Generating Income, Sponsorship & Grants

It is obviously possible to open without any extra financial assistance. If you wish to create extra interpretation or don’t have enough resources to do all you would like, now is time to look for some funding or sponsorship.

You may also wish to generate income or recoup your basic costs for the event. Many of our organisers are extremely creative about funding sponsorship, extra funding or developing sales opportunities. Here are some ideas:

Local Sponsors

For smaller projects you can seek local sponsors to help to recoup expenses. You can approach local companies for sponsorship in cash, or in kind or offer in return to put their logo on any published material produced for the event.

Local Companies, Community Programmes

There are many, many different ways that large local employers can be involved. Companies with “community” responsibilities can fund your print material or provide volunteers.

Funding and Grants

If you have a more ambitious project in mind there are thousands of trusts, foundations and other organisations that may be willing to fund your activities.
Some are national, others are local and many have very specific criteria for applications. The following points may be helpful in making a successful application.

• Make sure your project addresses the priorities of the funder you plan to approach.
• Ask for a realistic amount of money.
• Emphasise why you think your project is special - and how it will make more of a difference than the many others which funders consider regularly.
• Show how you will measure what your project achieves.
• The guidelines for the HLF Awards For All programme show that many of the activities developed by HODs organisers would fulfil the criteria suggested here.

A Grant for Small Community Projects

The aims of Awards for All are to:

Extend access and participation by encouraging more people to become actively involved in local groups and projects, and by supporting activities that aim to be open and accessible to everyone who wishes to take part;Increase skill and creativity by supporting for All information and application packs, activities which help to develop people and you can visit the Awards for All website. organisations, encourage talent and raise standards;
Improve the quality of life by supporting local projects that improve people’s opportunities, welfare, environment or local facilities, for example through voluntary action, self-help projects, local projects or events.
To get a grant you need to show how you will meet at least one of the above aims.

Who Can Apply?

You need a small grant between £300-£10,000 in England for a specific project or activity;
You are a not-for-profit group;
You can use the grant within one year.

How Can You Apply?

To download or apply to receive Awards for All information and application packs, you can visit the Awards for All website.
1. Template sponsorship letter
2. HODs tips for fundraising

Case Studies

Local Good Will

“I get good will sponsorship from local companies, e.g. access to two private buildings at Millfields; the loan of fire extinguishers and the offer of first aid back-up skills and facilities to support the Tower opening.” Nigel Overton, Plymouth City Council, Devon

Local Printers Help Promotion

In Rothley, Leicestershire, a company laminated all HODs posters and placards for free, protecting them from the weather and enabling the advertising to be in place for several weeks prior to the event. In Corsham, Wiltshire, an attractive leaflet outlining all the events in the area was produced with the logo of the printing company clearly displayed.

Tapping Into the Community Pot

“Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company with around 3,500 staff and therefore is one of the biggest employers in this area. It runs a programme called Health in the Community and also has another ‘community pot’ - providing funds for other events/local initiatives in the town. There is a long established agreement to give the Sandwich Society £350 each year towards local promotion. This money covers the cost of producing 2,000 leaflets, which are sent to Tourist Information Centres in towns nearby such as Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs etc.” Keith Wells, The Sandwhich Society, Kent