Led by Fern Potter, this course aims to dispel the mystique of writing strong applications for funding – whether grants from trusts/foundations or statutory bids. With practical exercises to improve your writing skills, anyone can produce a strong application provided they understand what is required, follow some simple rules, undertake thorough research and are tenacious.

Who is it for?

• Fundraising and development staff working in the performing arts, including dance and theatre companies, orchestras, venues, concert halls etc.
• Those new to writing fundraising proposals or those looking to refresh their skills in this area.

What will the day cover?

The day will cover the following areas:

• Writing skills
• Ideas generation and case for support
• Responding to charitable trusts and foundations criteria
• Research techniques
• Budgeting
  
  

You will be asked to use an actual project as a basis for some of the practical exercises during the day.

Fern has been mentoring and advising colleagues in the arts for many years, as both a regular trainer for Arts Funding and Philanthropy programme, Arts Council England and as a lecturer in Fundraising for the Cultural Sector at City, University of London (MA Arts Management). She has worked in fundraising for arts and cultural sector since 1990 - developing organisations and implementing strategic frameworks for effective fundraising from all areas of private giving, as well as marketing. She has held a variety of posts including: Director of Development with Dance UK, Head of Development with Dance Umbrella, Senior Development Manager with Index on Censorship, and founding Director of Essexdance. She consults on development and has worked with the Barbican, the Orlando Ballet, and The Place, among other clients, and has worked in the corporate sector as Business Development Manager with Tom Peters Company (UK).  Fern holds a MA Arts Management from City University, London and is a full member of the Institute of Fundraisers.