Grant funding is one component of a broader, strategic approach to fundraising. Effective fundraising involves securing diverse financial contributions to sustain an organisation’s operations.

A comprehensive understanding of grant funding is essential for registered charities, as well as for many CICs and community groups that depend on external funding to sustain their operations. The ability to strategically identify suitable funders and craft compelling, well-structured applications significantly enhances an organisation's likelihood of securing financial support.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

To ensure long-term financial resilience, it is crucial to develop multiple fundraising streams, mitigating the risk of over-reliance on any single source of income.

Fundraising can take many forms, but are popularly grouped in the following categories:

Community and General Public - This includes challenge events, sponsorship, etc.

Grants - This includes grants for capacity-building, projects and general expenditure.

Trading - This includes selling goods and bidding for Tenders.​