1. Bid Process

2. Identify bids Identify fundraising lead person Triage
DHT service needs funding 
DHT budget
FR targets
Gap analysis
Market intelligence
Horizon scanning
DHT idea for new service
Funding opportunity: bids and tenders
Tender websites
Key e-bulletins
Funders’ bulletins
Triage
Read. Check criteria & eligibility. Think about viability. Draft outline plan of project
Identify fundraising lead person

3. Small bids. Bids within fundraising plan
Make checklist of anything needed from DHT staff or external people eg policies, references, signatures, information
Identify key players within DHT: head of service; operational manager / senior; specialist knowledge
Draft
Draft the activities and outcomes. Think about who, what, when, where, how
Draft the budget. Consider fundraising priorities
Consult
Consult key players re service delivery
Consult Finance Director re budget
Consult Managing Director / SMB
Amend bid as necessary
Check
Other fundraising staff read bid to check for typos, grammar, sense, consistency. Check that bid explains service and people fully, to someone who knows nothing about the client group or service.

4. Large bids. Tenders. New projects
Explain
Summarise project, including timescales, monies on offer. Identify potential benefits and pitfalls. Identify where project would sit within current structure. Explain why partners to bid were chosen. Identify potential competitors
Decide
Take summary to SMB
Decision taken on whether to proceed
If yes, take to Board meeting or to all Board members, with summary info as above, for decision
Apply
Plan, draft and consult as for small bids (above)
Agree any delegation of tasks within fundraising team, DHT, or externally
Check
Critical friend to blue team it – check for typos, grammar, sense, consistency. Check that bid explains service and people fully, to someone who knows nothing about the client group or service.
Critical friend to red team it – really savage, look at from the eye of commissioner / funder

5. After bid is sent Admin Update database
Move folder to Sent Bids folder
Update internal tools eg Growing Lives Funding Plan
Update Evernote (quarterly)
Diarise
Add date of expected decision to diary
Report
Add to Board report

6. Successful bids
Admin
Update database, any internal tools, and add to Board report
Diarise all dates, eg deadlines to return contract, invoice dates, report due dates, start and end dates
Identify any requirements eg logos, publicity, need for receipts
Identify how and when to draw down funding
Tell
Tell SMB, Managing Director, Finance Director, and Board
Tell head of service, with clear short summary of project activities, outcomes, dates and any specific requirements
Tell any external partners
Draft press release Do
Arrange any meetings necessary to start and move the project forward
Make sure delivery staff know what is expected of them
Make sure we will collect all data needed
Return all reports and paperwork as necessary, up to end of project report
Give signed contract to Finance Director (as appropriate)
Check
Monitor implementation of project and progress towards targets
Check expenditure is on track
Make plan to address any issues with performance or delivery