How it works
Four phases from idea to funded
Each phase builds what funders look for. Start wherever you are today, and add wider support whenever it helps.
- 1Weeks 1-4
Set up your CIC
Purpose, the right structure, 3 unrelated directors, identity checks, registration and a bank account.
Guided CIC set-up £500
Already a registered CIC? Start at Phase 2 - 2Weeks 4-8
Become fundable
Core policies, DBS checks and insurance, a one-year budget and plan, and a small pilot to prove you deliver.
Community Group Set Up from £750
Policies, checks and plan in place? Start at Phase 3 - 3OngoingOur core service
Apply for funding
Start small, grow with evidence, track everything. We find the funds, write the applications and keep your pipeline moving.
Start small£500 to £5,000 pots: councils, community foundations, housing associations, supermarket schemes and Awards for All (up to £20,000).
Grow with evidenceEarly grants and impact reports unlock larger trusts and multi-year funding.
Track everythingA funder calendar, on-time reports and clean monitoring data. Good reporting wins repeat funding.
Success-Based or Retainer partnership
Phase 4 runs alongside any phase - 4Alongside any phase
Wider support & visibility
Social media, web presence, local networks, partnerships, annual compliance and Google reviews, so funders and your community find and trust you.
Optional extras
Working together
The eight steps we follow with every client
- 1
Get in touch
Tell us about your group and what you want to achieve.
- 2
Service assessment
A short form, then we recommend the right package.
- 3
Discovery meeting
We research you first and bring a preview of your funding opportunities.
- 4
Onboarding
Terms agreed and documents gathered: governing document, policies and so on.
- 5
Pipeline & applications
Fund research, eligibility, drafting, budgets and quality checks.
- 6
Your approval, then submission
Nothing goes to a funder until you've signed it off.
- 7
Funding decision
Funders set the timescales. Success fees are only due once the money arrives.
- 8
After the award
Help with acceptance, progress reports and end-of-grant reports.
Nothing is submitted without your approval. You sign off every application before it goes to a funder.
Questions
Things people usually ask
We're brand new. Can you still help?+
Yes. Phase 1 sets up your CIC and Phase 2 gets you fundable, so by the time we apply, funders see a group that's ready.
Do you guarantee funding?+
No one honestly can. Funders make the decisions. What we do is give every application its best chance, and about half of our decided applications succeed.
What if an application is unsuccessful?+
On a partnership we keep going with the next fund in your pipeline. With one-off Application Support you get a second application of similar size at no extra writing fee.
Will you submit anything without asking?+
Never. You approve every application before it goes to a funder.
When do we pay the success fee?+
Only once the money is in your account: within 7 days of receiving it, and per instalment if the funder pays in stages.
Can we see how our applications are going?+
Yes. Every client gets a private portal showing applications, updates, documents and invoices.
Not sure where to start?
Take our short service assessment and we'll tell you which phase you're at and what to do next. It's free.