Funding sources: how to obtain funding

Introduction

To be successful, an application must comply with both the spirit of the initiative, including the overall objectives of the European Union, as well as the formal application process. For Community Initiatives managed by Member States (Leader, Urban, EQUAL and Intereg) applications also need to comply with the individual States’ priorities as laid out in their National Action Plans. The Commission and National Agencies provide a wide range of free information and practical support for potential applicants. The wide variety of funding opportunities means that care is required when selecting which action to apply within.

Critical steps towards successful application at the preparatory stage are:

It is essential that the proposed project has a clear concept with identifiable outcomes.
Confirm that without EU funding the project would not happen, or would not be of such high quality.
It is important that the applicant is aware of the various funding channels, so that the application is made within the appropriate framework, and identifies synergies with other Initiatives. Time spent researching options may identify a more suitable avenue, but will also assist at the application stage by raising awareness of synergies with other actions.
The applicant must be capable of delivering the project, confirm that you have the resources available to undertake the application process itself, can identify the required match funding and can provide the required management and financial control if the project is approved.
The application needs to be driven by the need to deliver the project, not the need to access funds.

Finding the right fund

The various Commission websites listed in these pages on funding sources can provide all the information you require, but you will need to allocate adequate time for the task. If you do not have a clear task in mind, the volume of information can be overwhelming. You will frequently find suitable funds, then discover that the deadline for applications had passed. Do not be put off by this, contact the person responsible, or follow website links, to register your interest and ensure that you get advance notice of next year’s round of calls or other suitable actions.

There will nearly always be more than one suitable fund into which you could submit an application. You should check all of these before deciding which is best for you. Competition for funds can be very strong in some of the larger, more popular actions so do not ignore the smaller funded actions. These smaller funds are more closely targeted than the larger ones, but the application process is usually less daunting.

Do not be frightened to ask any of the Commission staff for help.

Completing the Application

When completing the application process it is vital that you complete any forms accurately and completely. These will form the basis of a legal contract if your application is successful; many excellent projects have failed to receive funding because insufficient care was taken to complete (and sign) the forms. There is a myth that certain key words or phrases such as ‘cohesion’, ‘subsidiarity’ or ‘social inclusion’ are essential. They may be helpful as focus points in the application, but unless they are evidenced by the text, they will be ignored.

The following ten questions raise just some of the issues that applicants often fail to check with regard to their projects.

Does it fit any EU objective and have either/or (a) European potential, (b) innovative nature or (c) local support?
Do you have some match funding available?
Do you have credibility as an organisation (able to handle the project of this size)?
Have you researched for background information on other grants?
Is a National programme in place (EQUAL, Rural II etc.)? if so, you must try this first.
Is it an RTD (6th Framework) project?
Do you need partners? If so, register with Cordis.
Have you prepared a summary and obtained feedback from advisers?
Have you completed your application forms carefully? Read the instructions carefully, check and double check.
Have you read the evaluation criteria and independently evaluated your application?

Whatever happens, keep you proposal (good proposals can be adapted next year).

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