Funding Applications
Published on March 30, 2025 by Chloe Spedding
Kia ora koutou,
I know a lot of funding rounds close imminently, so I thought now would be a good time to remind you of some things:
1. It pays to talk to a funder before you start the application process - tell them that you're with an umbrella organisation and make sure they're ok with that, and ask if they'd prefer the application to come from you, as the group executing the work, or from us, as the legal entity. Every funder is different, so it pays to just ask upfront! Feel free to put us in touch with funders that say they won't work with umbrella organisations - we're happy to meet with them and try and change their minds :)
2. You must tell Gift Collective that you are submitting a funding application, and send us a copy of the application for approval BEFORE you submit. As it is our name, our charity status, our bank account details and our reputation on the line, we need the ability to ask for edits on your application before you send them in.
3. Timing - we know you're all busy people, but please remember that we are too, and that it's unreasonable to ask us to do things immediately for you. Please allow a work week for us to approve applications, or provide documents for you.
4. Payments landing - if you're lucky enough to be awarded a grant, please make sure we're aware when payment is expected to land. Sometimes we receive the remittance advice, but sometimes this goes straight to the Collective. Funders often put their own references on the payments, so we don't always know which Collective to attribute the funds to unless we have that remittance advice.
5. Fundsorter is coming! Keep your eye on this, because this should be a super useful tool for Collectives to use - they're using AI to help you find grants that you could apply for. We'll be working with them when it's time, to see how they can work with Gift Collective. Stay tuned for more info!
All the best for your applications!
Chloe
I know a lot of funding rounds close imminently, so I thought now would be a good time to remind you of some things:
1. It pays to talk to a funder before you start the application process - tell them that you're with an umbrella organisation and make sure they're ok with that, and ask if they'd prefer the application to come from you, as the group executing the work, or from us, as the legal entity. Every funder is different, so it pays to just ask upfront! Feel free to put us in touch with funders that say they won't work with umbrella organisations - we're happy to meet with them and try and change their minds :)
2. You must tell Gift Collective that you are submitting a funding application, and send us a copy of the application for approval BEFORE you submit. As it is our name, our charity status, our bank account details and our reputation on the line, we need the ability to ask for edits on your application before you send them in.
3. Timing - we know you're all busy people, but please remember that we are too, and that it's unreasonable to ask us to do things immediately for you. Please allow a work week for us to approve applications, or provide documents for you.
4. Payments landing - if you're lucky enough to be awarded a grant, please make sure we're aware when payment is expected to land. Sometimes we receive the remittance advice, but sometimes this goes straight to the Collective. Funders often put their own references on the payments, so we don't always know which Collective to attribute the funds to unless we have that remittance advice.
5. Fundsorter is coming! Keep your eye on this, because this should be a super useful tool for Collectives to use - they're using AI to help you find grants that you could apply for. We'll be working with them when it's time, to see how they can work with Gift Collective. Stay tuned for more info!
All the best for your applications!
Chloe
❤️ 1