Secure funding and resources
Overview
This standard is about determining sources of funding and other resources and establishing good working relationships with actual and potential fund holders. It includes developing and submitting proposals for funding, or other forms of support, and negotiating the terms of proposals to a successful conclusion. You will also establish contingency plans so that you are able to mitigate against any shortfall in funding.
This standard is suitable for practitioners and managers who have responsibility for securing finance to develop provision.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
establish an up to date list of organisations that provide resources currently, and which might provide resources for future activities
develop fully costed proposals and recommendations for obtaining the finances and other resources required to deliver proposed activities
- agree proposals and recommendations with relevant stakeholders
- make bid proposal submissions to potential funders
- address any requests for further information and clarification
- agree contractual arrangements with funders which set out the terms of the resource provisions
- update all relevant parties regarding the outcome of the proposal
- provide those who will make use of the resources with information about any conditions attached to the funding
- develop contingency plans to address any problems regarding the spend requirements
- implement a system for effective funding source monitoring
- meet the values and principles in relation to the requirements of this standard
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- guidelines and codes of practice and any legislative, regulatory and ethical requirements in relation to types and providers of funding
- the objectives, plans and resources of your own organisation
- the proposed activities of your organisation, including those which require finance and resources
- the organisation's stakeholders and their views in relation to the financing of the organisation's activities
- the current types and providers of finance and other resources used by own organisation, and other potential types and providers of finance and their associated benefits and risks
- sources of information on resourcing opportunities, including those within the statutory, private, voluntary and charitable sectors
how and when to maximise opportunities and reduce duplication by working in partnership with other stakeholders
how to make a business case and promote the benefits of the proposed projects
- the scope, available resources and purpose of the funding body being approached, and any constraints under which they operate
- what information is required by the funding body and the correct format for the presentation of the proposal
- relevant people in your organisation and any key stakeholders who should be consulted on proposals and recommendations for obtaining finance and resources
- the importance of submitting clear proposals of bids or applications to providers of finance and other resources, and of allowing sufficient time for consideration
- the type of agreements that should be put in place with providers of finance and what they should cover
- the type of actions that might need to be taken in the event of a shortfall in funding
- why it is necessary to put contingency plans in place in relation to obtaining finance and the type of contingencies that might occur
- the values and principles in relation to the requirements of this standard
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Resources
This covers any physical or human resource that supports the adult learning process and could include technical equipment, IT-based resources, buildings, sources of specialist knowledge, local assets.