1. Business Archives Council Conference Panel Session
7 November 2013

2. Statistics: External Funding
47 forms received and analysed!
The majority of people here have applied for external funding – 57%
81% of these people have been successful in getting at least some of the funding applied for

3. Which bodies are people applying to?
Lots of different places! Some examples…
HLF
Economic and Social Research Council
National Cataloguing Grants Programme
Business Archives Council
JISC
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Leverhulme Trust EU
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Private bursaries
Rothschild Foundation
Wellcome
EPSRC
Cymal

4. Why are people not applying for external funding?
Ability to self-fund
Not within business policy/wouldn’t give a good impression to do so
Difficult to get funding for privately-owned collections
Too much work to get funding/not enough time and resources

5. What makes a good funding application?
Clarity, in terms of aims, objectives, benefits, timescales, costs, etc.
Show achievable goals
Demonstrate post-project self-sufficiency
Meet relevant funding criteria
Show benefits to stakeholders – internal and wider community
Exciting and original project
Work in partnership
Show wider professional support
Emphasise access/reaching new audiences

6. Why are funding applications turned down?
Too much competition/applications not distinctive
Funders’ priorities not covered
Poorly drafted applications, e.g. mistakes, not enough detail, etc.
Project provides limited benefits/too self-serving
Application process too complex
Over-ambitious goals
The type of organisations applying e.g. businesses not eligible for some funding

7. Views on application process and ways it could be improved
Can be very time-consuming, bureaucratic and complicated – but not for everyone!
More feedback on failed applications would be useful
Need clear instructions from funding bodies - being able to see examples of successful bids would help
More discussion needed on how businesses can apply

8. The most important considerations in making the case for internal funding
Support at the highest levels
The aims and mission of the parent organisation
Keeping to a tight budget
Having clear goals and timescales
Business language rather than ‘heritage’
Being on brand
Proving it can make money
Being brief and concise
Support from colleagues
It gives the organisation a reason to have a party!

9. Key questions for the panel
What are the most common mistakes in submitting grant applications?
What are the top 3 things you look for in an application?
Should we make more modest bids?
What are the ethical issues for profit-making businesses applying for external funding?
What would the BAC do to lobby for better funding for business archives?
Is there hope?!