Tips on applying for grants

On this page we have listed some tips about subsidies and how to apply for them. Elsewhere on the website you will find an overview of many grants and funds.

Provide a broad funding mix

It is almost never possible to work entirely on the basis of grants. A government will always ask to show cultural entrepreneurship and provide co-financing. A broad funding mix is an important part of this. This means having multiple sources of income to cover the costs of your initiative or project. These can be multiple grants and funds but it is even better if you also get income from your audience and from sponsorships.

Check eligibility first

What is not insignificant is whether you qualify for certain contributions at all. Governments will not often support concepts that have a purely commercial purpose where corporations are more likely to do so. Indeed, in almost all cases of government support, it is required to be a foundation or association to apply for a grant. This means that as a limited liability company or sole proprietor, you may not be able to do this at all. Many grantors or funds have their criteria listed very clearly on their websites. You can often also do a Quickscan, where by answering a few questions you will know fairly quickly whether you are eligible for a financial contribution or not.

First, review the terms and conditions and rules of the game

Every grant has ground rules or conditions attached to it. Generally, you can find this on the website of that government or you can ask a contact person, if that information is listed. Those ground rules and conditions can therefore vary quite a bit from grant to grant. Read these carefully because it would be a shame if you invested a lot of time, energy and/or money in an application but it was rejected because you did not meet all the conditions. The rules and conditions may, for example, relate to the amount of money you can apply for, the period in which the initiative or project must take place or the documents to be provided.

See where the common interests lie

To be eligible for a grant, it is important that your initiative or project aligns with the reasons the government in question has for providing that grant. Some governments think it is important for a particular city or region to come to the attention of a particular target group. They may also feel that an initiative or project should contribute to certain objectives of a city or region. These may include themes such as education, sustainability or improving the well-being of residents and visitors.

Know your target audience

When applying for a grant, the government will always look at your audience. The government will therefore always ask you to describe as clearly as possible what your target group is, how big it is and how you are going to reach it. This way they can better assess whether the desired effect can be achieved through your initiative or project and determine whether it is in line with their own objectives. In most cases you will be expected to include a communication plan with your application.

Establish yourself honestly and openly

There is absolutely no point in your grant application to thicken things up or talk around them. Just assume that a government comes into contact with these types of applications very often and they are knowledgeable enough. Your goal is to build a lasting relationship with partners and if it becomes clear that you have (deliberately) provided incorrect information somewhere, chances are that they will not want to help you with your next application. A government works with public money and it is their job to make sure it is spent properly.

Start the application on time

It takes time to submit a grant application. Keep in mind that you will need to gather information or documents or request them from third parties. In addition, it is good to look at it several times because you will see new things or think of certain additions. Finally, you can also discuss it with other people so you are not alone. With some grants, you have the opportunity to submit the first version before a certain date so that you can get feedback from the grant maker. In that case, you can use that feedback to make some adjustments that will give you a better chance of your application being honored.

Dare to ask

Each grant involves one or more people from the government. Their details are often described in the explanation of the grant. They know basically everything about that subsidy and they are only too happy to help you. They know very well that there are also people who are applying for the first time. If you don't understand something or are unsure about something, just ask. You may have to wait a while for an answer, but be nice and open. Then you will see that there is plenty of help available. In some cases, specific meetings are even organized where an explanation of a grant is given. Even if you have no questions, it is useful to get in touch beforehand, tell them what your plan is and that you intend to apply. Then you have already met your grantee and in many cases you will get information that will benefit you and that you did not know beforehand would be useful to you.

Don't focus on subsidies

Don't stare blindly at grants; start by looking at companies that can support your concept in products or services. Then you will see how much (cash) money you will actually need for the realization of your initiative or project. In terms of accountability and outside influence, sponsors are often easier to deal with than a government, which is not unjustified. After all, a company finances from its own funds (or previously booked profits) while a government has to draw on public money (from taxes). Therefore, take a realistic look at whether your initiative or project really cannot exist without government funding and clearly map out what you are going to use the money for.

If, from your expertise, you yourself have knowledge that would fit this topic, or if you see opportunities to improve this text, we look forward to receiving your message at info@cultuuracademy.nl.