How Can a Strategic Review Help You Secure Funding?

With so many organisations competing for the same limited pots of funding, finding a way to gain an edge is essential. One way to do this is through a Strategic Review—a process that can bring clarity, define your project, strengthen stakeholder support and, crucially, build funder confidence in your organisation and your plans.

This is Heritage Thinking Differently, here to help you succeed.

Understanding the Funder’s Perspective

In my experience, funders usually want to say yes. They want to support your ambitions and help you realise your goals. When they can’t, it’s often not because your idea wasn’t worthwhile - it’s because they didn’t feel confident in your ability to deliver it. This might be due to a weak case, a lack of evidence, or simply a poor fit with their priorities or funding criteria.

A common reason for rejection is when funders feel the groundwork hasn’t been done. If they aren’t convinced that your project has organisational, audience or community support—or that you’ve properly considered the delivery and long-term implications - they’re more likely to suggest a resubmission.

A Strategic Review can help you avoid this by demonstrating that you’ve taken the time to test your ideas, gather insight, and build consensus.

What Is a Strategic Review?

A Strategic Review is a tailored process that can support either long-term planning - producing a 2/5/10-year business plan - or a specific project or funding bid. The approach is flexible and can be adapted to meet your needs.

Typically, the process begins with a series of one-to-one interviews with a defined group of people. This could include trustees, local councillors, senior managers, staff, volunteers, community representatives, and other key stakeholders. These interviews focus on five core questions designed to uncover their ambitions for your organisation, highlight what’s working well, and identify where investment or development is needed.

The insights gathered from these interviews feed into the first of two workshops. This initial session brings together a cross-section of stakeholders to explore, discuss and prioritise the points raised. These may become the foundation of a future strategy or the basis for a funding application.

The second workshop is more practical - focused on identifying the steps needed to deliver the agreed priorities or resolve the challenges identified. The process concludes with the production of a written report, capturing the findings and proposed way forward.

Why Funders Like It

There are two main ways a Strategic Review can support a funding bid.

In the first instance, it can demonstrate that your proposed project is part of a larger, well-considered plan. This kind of evidence helps funders see that your bid is not just a one-off idea but part of a broader organisational strategy. It shows that your plans are supported, examined, and likely to succeed.

Alternatively, a Strategic Review can be used to focus specifically on your funding bid - either to shape it from the outset or to ‘stress-test’ an existing proposal. Being open to potential issues and seeking wide input from stakeholders shows a mature and realistic approach to project planning, which funders value.

Either way, undertaking a Strategic Review shows that your organisation is proactive, collaborative, and capable of delivering what it promises.

Addressing Funder Concerns

One of the key areas funders focus on is outcomes. You may feel confident about your project’s potential, but without consultation or evidence, funders may not share your certainty. A review that includes community voices and stakeholder input can strengthen your case and reassure funders that your proposed outcomes are realistic and meaningful.

Another common area of concern is budgeting and financial planning. A robust strategy - developed through a review process—can help to justify your costs and demonstrate value for money. The same applies to your delivery plan, staffing structure and timeline. The more aspects of your project that are clearly thought through and widely supported, the fewer opportunities there are for a funder to question or challenge them.

Put simply, if you’ve undertaken a Strategic Review, you are likely to be ahead of the pack.

When and How to Use It

Whether you're developing a full business plan with funding embedded within it, or preparing a one-off project bid, a Strategic Review can strengthen your proposal. If you’ve recently had a funding application rejected, this may be the next logical step.

Don’t assume a rejection means your idea was wrong. In many cases, it simply means your case needs strengthening. A Strategic Review helps you revisit the core of your proposal, engage the right people, and reframe your bid with clarity and confidence.

It also provides strong supporting material. Including the review report with your submission gives funders tangible evidence of your preparation and process. It shows that you’ve put in the work - and that you’re serious about delivery.

Let’s Talk

If you're preparing a funding bid, or if you’ve had one recently rejected, I’d be happy to help. The Strategic Review process can be adapted to a wide range of organisations and budgets, and it may be exactly what you need to take your project forward with renewed focus and support. See my blog below for how my approach works and the other benefits for your organisation.

Get in touch via my website - I’d love to hear about your plans and explore how I can help you turn ambition into action.

Paul Baker

Links:

Heritage Thinking Differently - Strategic Review

Thinking Differently Blog - If You Don't Have a Strategy, That IS your Strategy