Funder Fit Check
Check if a funder is the right one, before you start writing your application
22-24 April | £9
3 days of support and a step-by-step guide
for small charities, CICs and community groups
with Christina Poulton
You’ve found a funder to apply to.
But how do you know if they’ll fund your kind of project? Or your organisation? Or the amount of cash you’re asking for?
An application being ineligible for that funder is the number 1 reason that bids get turned down.
You can write a bid so beautiful that it would make poets weep, but if it doesn’t match the funder requirements then it’s a big waste of your precious time.
Too often, applications fail, not because the project isn’t brilliant, but because your type of organisation, the activity itself, or the amount requested doesn’t match what the funder wants.
One funder report showed that 45% of applications didn’t meet the funder eligibility criteria! That's because the info you need is not always easy to find. And even when you do find it, it's often in funder jargon.
That’s where Funder Fit Check comes in.
After you’ve found a funder you want to apply to- Funder Fit Check is your toolkit to make sure it’s worth writing that application.
I put on my deerstalker hat and grab my magnifying glass to help you do the detective work that most people skip, so you can move forward with confidence and save yourself hours of wasted effort.
Who this is for
This is perfect if you:
✅Are running a small charity, CIC or community organisation
✅Have a project you need funding for, but aren’t sure if the funder you have your eye on is the one
✅Want a simple, step-by-step way to check you’re eligible before you invest time in writing an application
How it works
1. Sign up and get your guide and micro-training videos delivered on email each morning, 22-24 April.
2. Work through the guide whenever suits you over three days, using the videos and tips to track down the info you need
3. Ask me questions anytime in those three days. I’ll be your study buddy through the process, translating funder jargon and sharing tips and hacks- to go beyond the funder’s website for the info you need
By the end, you’ll know if the funder you have your eye on is worth applying to or not.
🎉 You can ask as many questions as you like in the Q&A community, and you get to join Sticky-note Squad, which is my free email support for small organisations doing great things.
What you get
For £9 you get 3 days of support 22-24 April, plus lifetime access to the Funder Fit Check guide.
FAQs
How long does it take? Do I have to be available for all 3 days?
Nope. You get all the info on email and can work through it whenever suits you. You’ll probably need an hour or two in total. My live support is available for the 22-24 April during 9-5 and I’ll make sure I respond to all questions submitted during that time. But other than that you can use the resources whenever you want and re-use them any time you want to check out a potential funder
Can you help me find a funder?
Yep. I have a £9 training here on finding the right funders for your work.
Once you’ve identified a potential funder, use the Funder Fit Check to make sure they’re a good match for you and your work.
Can you help me write my funding bid?
Absolutely. I have some instant access training on bid writing if you want to get started asap.
11-15 May 2026, I’ll also be running my Funding Bids: Make It Happen week. You’ll get the training, co-working sessions and live support from me all week to plan and write your bid. Plus I’ll read over and feedback on your draft application.
If you sign up for Funder Fit Check below, I’ll send you the details of this direct.
Who are you?
Hi, I’m Christina (she/her).
I work with charities, CICs and community orgs to make your work easier to manage and fund. There’s more about me here.
I have run and fundraised for many organisations, as well as setting up the management, decision making and board structures from scratch.
I’ve worked with hundreds of people on their organisation set up, governance, procedures and strategy. In my previous life running organisations I have worked with and tamed many boards. In my consultancy I have delivered training on all this stuff for board members and staff, and I am a board member myself.
When you run a non-profit, you’re often doing it all – and often by yourself. If that's you, then you’re in the right place. Get some support and your questions answered!
What about access?
Any visual information in the videos is also repeated verbally. The captions for the video recording were checked for clarity and accuracy by me, rather than just AI and the full transcript is available.
The resources will be in text pdf with good colour contrast but I can provide things as pure text doc if preferred. Any images in the emails include alt text. Contact me if you have any questions.
Terms and conditions
By signing up to the training you agree to the terms and conditions