Skills for the Job: Bid writing

Why is good bid writing important?
For many organisations working with children and young people, the pressure to keep income coming in makes successful bid writing vital. But, given ongoing pressures on resources, funding bodies are receiving applications in increasingly large volumes, whether it be grant applications or tenders for contracts, making it even more important that bids are well-thought out and compelling.

People who are able to put together successful bids for funding are clear about what the project is for, how it is going to be delivered and what the outcomes will be for all concerned. They will be able to present a strategy and a fully costed action plan. Writing a successful funding bid requires the application of some key skills, in terms of co-ordination of information, and the ability to sell your organisation.
 
When should you make a bid for funding?
It is important to think about your organisation’s strategy and vision and whether that corresponds with the requirements of the bid. Many organisations can suffer from “mission drift”, where they construct bids to satisfy funders that do not necessarily tally with their expertise. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do – don’t chase contracts for the sake of funding. Instead, ensure the time and effort you put into the bidding process is a wise investment so that it is more about what your organisation is about and not squeezing yourselves into what funding is available.

It is also worth thinking about who else you would want to, or could, work with on a particular bid. Partnership bids are often deemed to be better value for money and can yield a range of outcomes for the funder that often a single organisation would not be able to achieve. However, be sure to choose your partners carefully. Think about what each partner can bring to the table and whether as a partnership you are compatible. If you do join forces with another organisation, it is important to be clear about roles and responsibilities and in particular who is leading the partnership. If there are leads for particular strands of work then that should be thought about early on in the process.
 
How should you approach writing a bid?
Think of bid writing as similar to taking an exam. Teachers always tell pupils to read the question carefully, and bid writing is no different. Make sure you understand exactly what is being asked of you.

Think about your offer – and make it clear and concise, drawing on evidence that you have used in putting it together. This could include existing research and/or consultation findings. It is also good to think at an early stage about possible future requirements, such as whether you will have to submit supporting documents with the bid. It may be the case that the chair of the organisation has to sign it off, so it is well worth making sure you have that all in order first, to avoid last-minute panics.

When you are putting your budget together, be realistic. Can you meet the delivery requirements in certain circumstances, such as if payment is in arrears?
 
How do you sell your organisation in a bid?
The key to selling yourself is the use of “buzz words”. Think about how the funder articulates their key priorities and use these to articulate what you want to offer to ensure they can see how you “fit” what they are trying to achieve and why you would make a good partner. It is useful to adopt a mindset of thinking of yourself as a partner to the funder, not a contractor. This often helps in putting together a bid that reads well and makes sense.


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