by Monica Davidson

Funding for creative activity in Australia is really competitive. According to Creative Australia, our national arts funding body, the success rate is between 15% and 20%. Even those of us who write applications as part of our work have a median success rate of 50%.  I’m lucky – and experienced – so mine is higher (for the moment – and no, I’m not telling. I’ll jinx it). 

Despite that boastful flex, I have made some spectacular mistakes when it comes to funding over the course of my career. I’ve also been a part of grant assessment panels, and witnessed first hand where my fellow creatives have gone wrong. So, here are my seven tips on the best ways to avoid the most common funding f*#k ups. 

You’re Not Eligible

Sounds silly, but if you’re not eligible for the funding, don’t apply for the funding. If you’re not sure, book a meeting or call with the designated person at the funding agency for a meeting to discuss. I’ve seen a few occasions where the wording of grant eligibility was vague, or the criteria was a little odd, but it’s usually straightforward. You’re eligible, or you’re not. 

Eligibility usually centres around two things: your organisational structure, or the type of project you want funded. Check and double check the application website, and don’t be afraid to talk to the funding body. Remember, they have to give away this money, to help them achieve their outcomes, and reading an ineligible application is a waste of everyone’s time. Let them help you before you get started. 

You Didn’t Address the Questions

All grants have assessment criteria, so understand that first. All the sections of the application form will be connected to this criteria in some way, even if the questions seem repetitive. If you don’t answer the questions correctly and address these criteria, then your application cannot succeed. 

Remember, the selection criteria is then ‘bible’ that the assessment panels follow to ensure they make objective decisions about who gets the dough. If you write vague responses, or “see above” to repetitive questions, you will not get through. 

Also pay attention to any support materials required, including budgets and project plans. I usually start there, and work backwards, to make sure my submission aligns exactly with the criteria established. 

You Forgot Your Audience

In the end, we’re asking for money to create things that a third party will enjoy – our audience. They are the same group of people that the funding body is trying to support as well. This application isn’t about you, and it’s not about the funder, it’s about making that third party happy. When you lose sight of the audience, your application is much less likely to succeed, because you won’t focus on showing the assessors why you are the right choice to help them achieve this shared outcome.  

In writing applications, put yourself in the assessor’s shoes and keep the audience front of mind. For example, instead of writing ‘This project is artistically innovative,’ try ‘This project will engage a diverse audience through interactive workshops and a culminating performance.’ If you can guide the assessors through how your project will achieve shared outcomes, you stand a much better chance of accessing the money.

You’re Asking for Too Much

It’s very rare for a funder to provide 100% of the necessary funds to complete a project. You will usually be asked to contribute something to the project, which could include your own money, your time, some other resources or ‘value in kind’. You will also be asked to find others to contribute resources of value as well, and provide Letters of Support as evidence of that donation. 

If you ask for too much, you won’t get it. There is a limited pool of funds to be distributed, and it’s in everyone’s best interests to ensure that as many opportunities are granted as possible. Create a realistic budget, and then find whatever significant Value In-Kind you can to add to it. 

You’ve Failed to Persuade 

Ultimately this is an exercise in trust. You need to convince the assessors that you are a safe space for their money. Giving you the funds will result in the outcomes you’ve outlined, which align to their objectives, meaning everybody will be happy. If you fail to persuade them that you’re the safe option, you won’t get the moolah. 

Persuasion means creating a coherent story that connects you as the applicant to your previous experience, the new idea you’re proposing, and the methodology for pulling it off. This narrative arc also needs to include a tight and convincing argument, with details about the who, what, where, when, how and WHY. Use any evidence you can find to prove your point. Keep your language clear, concise and to the point, and you’re more likely to persuade. 

You Haven’t Supported Your Application

You will f*#k up your application if you fail to provide evidence of whatever you’ve asserted in your words. If you need to attach quotes to your budget, get them. Letters of Support? Ask for them early. Anything else you need? Get started on support materials as soon as you start the application, and make sure they’re organised and digitally accessible. 

If you can prove to assessors that your team has relevant previous experience, that the project is planned out, and you’ve itemised how much it will cost, you’re moving to the front of the pack. Your support material is evidence, which in turn gives you credibility and removes any question from the assessor’s mind about the legitimacy of your application

You’ve Haven’t Measured Success 

This money needs to accomplish outcomes and meet the objectives outlined in the assessment criteria. This then begs the question – how will we know that this has occurred? What does success look like for this project, and how are you going to measure that impact? You might feel that making the work is success alone, but what about that audience? Funding bodies need concrete ways of measuring outcomes, so to make your application as compelling as possible, you’ll need to figure out what success looks like for your project and how you can measure it in a meaningful way.

Good luck!

Do you need some help with your funding? We have a fabulous workshop called Funding Fundamentals that can help you solve all your funding failures. Sign up to our AdHoc monthly e-news to find out about when our next FREE webinar on funding and grant writing is happening.