Funding Sources
Information about grant-awarding bodies to which rowing clubs can apply for funding, and how to make successful application
If you are considering applying for support from a funding agency, the following may be able to help you.
- British Rowing’s Facilities Service for advice on developing your application
- Your Local Authority Sports Development Officer
- County Sports Partnership for localised funding.
All of these will be able to advise you on the latest developments and criteria used by the various agencies. You will then be able to select the most appropriate schemes to apply to.
Talk to us about your plan
It’s really important that you make British Rowing staff aware (by contacting the Facilities Service) of any grants you are applying for, as the National Governing Body nearly always has to endorse applications. The more we know, the more we can help.
Grant-finder websites
You should also look for web based grant finders to make sure you haven’t missed a good, appropriate ‘pot’ of money, and don’t forget to look for local charities who have funding for specific purposes. For a good example of how successful this can be, have a look at this video:
There are all sorts of charities that are bound to fund quite specific projects or groups. See if there are any that match what your club offers your community: you may be surprised at how much funding is available once you start looking carefully!
How to make successful funding applications
Before you start to make a grant application, make sure you’re really clear what you need need or what purpose of your application is. For example, “We need equipment” is not much of an answer. Exactly what equipment? And why? You need to provide a list. The most important part of your application is being clear about what you can deliver for your funder. Each funder and funding pot will have an objective, nearly always in terms of increasing participation. You will need to be very clear and robust in providing information about your current base and how the funds you are asking for can expand your club’s activities and increase and diversify your participation from within your local community. See our quick checklist below.
There are many sources of funding for large scale projects but important funders of sport at a local level are still rowing club members, friends and the local community. Social events, raffles and local companies looking for sponsorship should be a club’s first stop when searching for funds.
Funding Checklist
- What does your club want?
- Why does your club want it?
- When does your club want it?
- How is your club going to get it?
These basic questions will point your club towards getting full and detailed answers to questions asked by prospective donors, questions such as:
- Why do you need x boat?
- Who will it be used by?
- What benefits are there for the club?
- What benefits for the donor?
When looking to gain sponsorship it is more successful to target donors that will have their interests met by the results of the project. A useful reference book to help clubs with their funding issues is The Sports Funding Guide by Nicola Eastwood.
List of funding sources
Fund | Funding up to | Type |
---|---|---|
Active Partnerships Network The 43 Active Partnerships across England who use the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives. | Various | Local funding advice Find out more |
National Lottery Good Causes Search through Lottery grants to find the most appropriate one for your club. | Various | Search for relevant Lottery funding Find out more |
My Funding Central Funding search tool for charities and VCSEs. | Various | Web based grant search (fee applies) Find out more |
Rowing Foundation The Rowing Foundation is a registered charity. Its purpose is to promote the participation in rowing of young people (those under 18 or still in full time education) and people of all ages with disabilities. | £500 – £4,000 | Water rowing Find out more |
Small Grants The Sport England Small Grants Programme uses National Lottery funding to This fund seeks to develop opportunities for communities to get more people physically active. | £300 – £15,000 | Grow participation Find out more |
Awards For All England Awards for All England is part of the National Lottery Community Fund for projects that improve communities, and the lives of people within them. | £300 – £10,000 | Community organisations and groups Find out more |
Other National Lottery Community Funds Various | Various | Various Find out more |
RALPHH Grants to purchase defibrillator equipment to be based at clubs. | Defibrilator grant | Rowing clubs Find out more |
Grantsnet Grantsnet is a search engine for grants available to UK organisations. It is for charities and voluntary organisations, public service organisations, businesses and funders. Currently awaiting relaunch. | Various | Web based grant search Grantsnet |
- Fund:
- Active Partnerships Network
The 43 Active Partnerships across England who use the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives. - Funding up to:
- Various
- Type:
- Local funding advice
Find out more
- Fund:
- National Lottery Good Causes
Search through Lottery grants to find the most appropriate one for your club. - Funding up to:
- Various
- Type:
- Search for relevant Lottery funding
Find out more
- Fund:
- My Funding Central
Funding search tool for charities and VCSEs. - Funding up to:
- Various
- Type:
- Web based grant search (fee applies)
Find out more
- Fund:
- Rowing Foundation
The Rowing Foundation is a registered charity. Its purpose is to promote the participation in rowing of young people (those under 18 or still in full time education) and people of all ages with disabilities. - Funding up to:
- £500 – £4,000
- Type:
- Water rowing
Find out more
- Fund:
- Small Grants
The Sport England Small Grants Programme uses National Lottery funding to This fund seeks to develop opportunities for communities to get more people physically active. - Funding up to:
- £300 – £15,000
- Type:
- Grow participation
Find out more
- Fund:
- Awards For All England
Awards for All England is part of the National Lottery Community Fund for projects that improve communities, and the lives of people within them. - Funding up to:
- £300 – £10,000
- Type:
- Community organisations and groups
Find out more
- Fund:
- Other National Lottery Community Funds
Various - Funding up to:
- Various
- Type:
- Various
Find out more
- Fund:
- RALPHH
Grants to purchase defibrillator equipment to be based at clubs. - Funding up to:
- Defibrilator grant
- Type:
- Rowing clubs
Find out more
- Fund:
- Grantsnet
Grantsnet is a search engine for grants available to UK organisations. It is for charities and voluntary organisations, public service organisations, businesses and funders. Currently awaiting relaunch. - Funding up to:
- Various
- Type:
- Web based grant search
Grantsnet