How To Find Funders For Your Work

Written by Christina Poulton
Approximate reading time: 5 minutes

In our sector it’s too easy to get stuck in a loop of applying to Arts Council and if you don’t get the funding it can’t go ahead. So here is a pick and mix of approaches and sources for funding your work, which aims to kickstart a journey down a more varied path.

Arts Council funding is incredibly valuable but even that requires some match funding from elsewhere. Securing funding from other sources can also help you evaluate the structure of your work and free you up to test different approaches.

Approaches

Building blocks

Rather than all or nothing, imagine your work being like a Lego model. One funder might give you 20 bricks, another might give you 10. What you can build will depend on the number of bricks, so have a few possibilities in mind and be prepared to simplify or build more depending on the funding you have to work with. Is there a simple model of your work, which doesn’t need many bricks and you can then show people what you’re trying to build to get them invested?

Talk to people

Tell everyone you meet about your work and the funding you’re looking for- it can come from the most unlikely places. Most areas in the country have a local Voluntary or Community Sector Support organisation. Many of these have a funding newsletter where they share lists of open funds and often host meet the funder events and networking events, which are perfect places to shout about your work. Arts sector support organisations- either for your area or your discipline- also often host similar events and share funding opportunities. Get the elevator pitch for your work down so you can take the opportunity to tell the head of commissioning about it when you end up in a Zoom breakout room together. 

Find your allies and your competitors

Track down other projects like yours or creatives that do what you do and have a nose at their website- there will usually be funder logos or a supporters page which can give you some pointers for how they have funded their work. In venues, check out brochures and flyers for funding info. On twitter, as well as following funders and support organisations to hear about new funding opportunities, other artists will often do shout outs when they receive funding. 

Sources of funding to explore

Commissions and seed funding

Get on the mailing list for organisations that programme or commission work like yours. While some may offer a fee to create a new piece of work from scratch, others will provide free space, mentoring and a bit of cash or ‘seed funding’ which can be used to develop and grow a project in the early stages. Outdoor festivals, rural touring agencies and arts development orgs that focus on regeneration in a particular area, can be likely candidates for commissions. 

Partner funding

There are often organisations with the capacity to secure larger funds, that don’t necessarily have the artistic knowledge or community connections to deliver the whole project. Building partnerships with those focused on the same geographic area, community, or theme as your work can often pay off in joint funding bids or them contracting you to deliver. It could be a shopping centre, Business Improvement District, cathedral, social housing group, care home, environmental charity or support groups for particular conditions.

In kind support

What can you get for free that you would otherwise have to pay for? Arts organisations with a remit for artist development often offer rehearsal or studio space, marketing support, producing advice or mentoring. Commercial organisations often have a Corporate Social Responsibility staff member- so if someone owns a space you want to use, it’s always worth an ask. 

Lottery, trusts and foundations

If you’re looking at applying to trusts and foundations for a grant, there’s a blog here with more information on how to get started. The National Lottery has several funding streams for projects that include creative activity but have a community or heritage focus, and provide lots of useful advice on their website about how to apply. 

Public funding

Funders like Arts Council England and The British Council get money from central government and so have a responsibility to be transparent about the funding available and will share opportunities via newsletters, social media and at information events. Most local councils got rid of their arts funding years ago but often have funds pop up for things like neighbourhood development, supporting the night time economy or managing property developers’ obligatory contribution towards public art. Track down the departments, people and news channels this will be shared through in your local area.

Individual Giving, Corporate Sponsorship and Crowdfunding

Whether it’s £1,000 from one person or £10 from a hundred people, sponsorship and donations can provide a new source of income for your work. Finding those individuals and cultivating a relationship takes time so combine it with your audience/ customer engagement work. Start with building a group of people who care about and support your work and provide small ways for them to support, financially or otherwise. Identify those who are keen. Once they’re invested it’s easier to make an ask. “Cold calling” doesn’t work. There are some good podcasts and online resources on these types of income so spend some time familiarising yourself with the approach if you plan to go down this route. There’s also a how-to guide to crowdfunding in the resources here.

Earned income 

Making your own funding for your work has lots of exciting potential because you don’t have to try and fit someone else’s criteria. Think beyond merchandise or charging for tickets and take inspiration from sectors outside of the arts- who are generally better at making money than us! It could be from another source entirely e.g. a company that generates income from bars and events to fund performances, or charging for online illustration workshops to fund your new exhibition. Sharing previews of your writing via a Patreon page or selling digital downloads of your work. Steal ideas from companies you are loyal to- how do they upsell or cross sell? What makes you willing to pay more? If you charge fees for your work, re-evaluate regularly to make sure it’s competitive and you’re not underselling your work. 

With all sources of funding it’s finding the ones that work for you and testing whether the time spent is worth the income generated. Keep exploring- there’s a funder out there who’s dreaming of work like yours.