Start, stop, continue

The essential guide for bid writers

Bid writing is a high-stakes skill requiring a balance of strategic thinking, persuasive communication, and meticulous attention to detail. As funding landscapes become more competitive, bid writers must continuously refine their approach to increase their success rates.

We recommend the Start, Stop, Continue framework as a way to evaluate your practices and optimise your applications.

START

New practices to adopt for stronger bids

Start thinking like a funder

Instead of thinking about your charity’s needs, think first and foremost about the funder. What are their goals and their vision? How can supporting your project help them achieve those?

Start using data to tell a story

Integrate your statistics into a narrative of problem, intervention, and impact.

Start treating bid writing as a strategic function

Bidding should not be a random, reactive practice. It should be incorporated into a charity’s long-term funding strategy.

Start collaborating across teams

Involve a range of people in the process to strengthen your application’s credibility and authenticity.

Start reviewing and learning from past bids

Why did one bid succeed and another bid fail? Did you get any feedback from the funders? Always be learning.

STOP

Common pitfalls that undermine bids

Stop using generic, recycled content

You can keep your core content about the charity, but you must tailor every application to the funder’s specific requirements and priorities.

Stop overloading applications with jargon

Go for clarity over complexity.

Stop ignoring the budget

If the budget lacks detail, doesn’t align with the project narrative, or includes unrealistic costings, your bid will quickly lose credibility.

Stop underestimating the importance of formatting and presentation

It is not just what you say. A well-structured, visually clear application is easier to assess and makes a better impression.

Stop submitting at the last minute

… because that’s how errors happen. Make sure you always plan and have plenty of time to proofread and polish your applications.

CONTINUE

Best practices for bid success

Continue prioritising evidence-based impact

Back up your claims of impact with robust evidence - funders need to be convinced their funding will really deliver tangible results.

Continue strengthening relationships with funders

Keep engaging with a funder in between bids, and your charity will be at the front of their mind in future.

Continue adhering to funder guidelines

Check them every time, and definitely stay within the word count!

Continue demonstrating organisational capacity and sustainability

Funders are not just interested in projects; they want to know that your organisation has the expertise and long-term sustainability to deliver them properly.

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If bid writing is your life, or you want to equip your colleagues to do it better, we would love to share the wisdom of our experienced team in more detail. Join our special Trust Fundraising Mini MBA course starting this September - details and signup form here.