Preparing a grant or funding application: scheme and compliant application

Situations relevant to preparing a grant application

• An SME had an application rejected for incompleteness and is preparing a new one.
• A cooperative hesitates between a national funding window and an international donor’s programme.
• An association must align its budget, activities and indicators.
• A project promoter is seeking bank financing and must first structure its presentation note.
• A call for proposals is nearing its closing date and requires a completeness check of the annexes.

Process

1. Purchase and onboarding. The client first acquires the Funding or grant application intake form (CV-08). ASKonsult then opens the secure exchange space.
2. Synchronous scoping. Session 1, a 60-minute videoconference, addresses the choice of scheme and its selection criteria. It also lists the required documents and the timetable of the call.
3. Asynchronous collection. The client then completes the intake form and submits the administrative and financial documents. Written questions flow in both directions.
4. Analysis and correction. The firm’s in-house engineering team then drafts the presentation note and aligns the budget, activities and indicators. A 45-minute session 2 reviews the note, followed by a completeness check.
5. Synchronous delivery. Finally, session 3, a 60-minute videoconference, provides the final review of the file before submission. It concludes with the handover of the validated deliverable.

Deliverable

Preparing a grant application results in a complete application file. The presentation note first sets out the project in light of the scheme’s criteria. A detailed budget then accompanies this note. The logical framework or the indicator table, in addition, links the activities to the expected results. Finally, a checklist of annexes verifies the completeness of the file. ASKonsult hands over the whole set at session 3, before submission.

Prerequisites

The package first requires the completed Funding or grant application intake form (CV-08). The rules of the call or scheme and the administrative and financial documents complete this foundation. In addition, subscription takes place at least 15 working days before the closing date. Time frames run from receipt of a complete file.

Frequently asked questions

How is the package quote established?

The quote rests on a qualification exchange prior to subscription. This exchange covers in particular the targeted scheme, national funding window or international donor, and the volume of the file. The special conditions then set the scope, timetable, number of sessions, expected documents and deliverable. ASKonsult then creates the order from the accepted quote.

Why must subscription take place at least 15 working days before the closing date?

The package runs over 2 to 4 weeks, within the limit of the call’s closing date. Drafting, alignment and the completeness check indeed require a minimum lead time. A later subscription would therefore not allow the final review before submission. This lead time thus preserves the quality of the file handed over.

How are the sessions and asynchronous work distributed?

The package includes three videoconference sessions, 2 hours 45 minutes in total. Scoping and the final review each last 60 minutes; the review of the note, 45 minutes. Between these sessions, collection and analysis take place asynchronously, through the secure exchange space. Written questions flow there in both directions.

Does the package guarantee that the funding is obtained?

No. Preparing a grant application is an obligation of means. Admissibility and award indeed depend solely on the funding body. Nor does the package include submission of the file, which remains the client’s responsibility. Likewise, the search for co-funders and bank intermediation remain outside the service.

Do the documents submitted remain confidential?

The firm treats as confidential the administrative and financial documents submitted. These items circulate solely through the secure exchange space and serve only the purposes of the service. This obligation also survives the end of the relationship. Reciprocally, the client undertakes the same discretion with regard to non-public tools and deliverables. The client is also answerable for the accuracy of the information submitted.

Which tools and follow-ups relate to the package?

The checklist “Preparing a funding or grant application” (P-15) first prepares the collection of documents. The Business plan and financial forecast package (K-02) consolidates, for its part, the quantified assumptions. When the project targets investors, the Investor pitch coaching package (K-03) takes over. Finally, regular support falls under the Reference subscription (A-01).

Out of scope

The package excludes submission of the file, which remains the client’s responsibility. Nor does the search for co-funders fall within the service. Bank intermediation also remains outside the scope. Finally, the package carries no guarantee of admissibility or award, the decision resting solely with the funding body.