WHAT IS FUNDERFINDER?

FunderFinder GIN (for Groups in Need) is a computer software program that helps charities and voluntary organisations identify which charitable trusts might support their work. You use it in conjunction with the various directories of grant-making trusts.

What information do you have to put in to the computer?
The computer program will need to be told

• what kind of a group you are
• what sort of money you're looking for (e.g running costs, project, building work)
• whether your project is of more than local significance
• whether your group has charitable status
• how much money you're trying to raise
• whether you're prepared to raise it in smaller amounts
• whether your project is particularly innovative, or particularly radical or unpopular, or particularly concerned with self-help
• where in the world the work is taking place and where your group is based

You will then need to ask the computer to retrieve funders with certain interests. You might ask to see funders interested in certain types of people (like young people or people with mental health problems or refugees) or certain subjects (like community centres, or vocational education, or conservation of the countryside) or certain places (like Runcorn, Widnes, Halton or the North West). It's worth thinking in advance about the kind of funders you're trying to find. What charitable purposes are you carrying out? Who benefits from your activities?

What happens when you've entered all the information?
FunderFinder searches through all the funder profiles in its dataset (which is updated every six months) and comes up with a list of charitable trusts that you should consider. It can put your list in 'best match' order, with the best bets at the top. You choose the ones you want in the printout and press the Print button.

What's on the printout?
The printout has names of those funders you've selected but not the addresses or phone numbers. It tells you where you'll find further information - which pages of which directories. It might give you short notes too.

So there's still more work to do at the end?
Yes, FunderFinder helps you identify funders to research. You've still got to read up about those funders in the various printed directories or CD-ROMs, decide if they really are for you and if so write a good application.
Most funders get many more requests for support than they are able to help. The quality of your application is what counts. So be prepared to spend time getting your application right.

How long does a FunderFinder search take?
It depends on how complicated your search is and whether you want to try different options. If you're new to FunderFinder you should probably allow half an hour from start to printout.

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