Looking for a grant to fund your first – or next – expedition, but aren’t sure where to start?
At this address at the annual RGS Explore Weekend in November 2022, Dr Julian Martin, then the Society’s Grants Manager, took the audience through what it takes to construct a compelling and successful application for a Royal Geographical Society expedition grant.
What does this talk cover?
With more than £150,000 given annually through a variety of grants to expeditions going all over the world, there are many opportunities for people and organisations looking to launch a field project with funding from the Society.
But there is a grant-writing methodology for a successful application, principally by being able to demonstrate a credible project that is ambitious yet realistic and that is clearly well organised.
When approaching the funding body, Julian emphasises: “You really need to inspire them. Why is what you’re going to do important? Why is it going to jump off the page? What’s going to make your application stand out from others?”
With many hundreds of grant applications reviewed and feedback given over the years, Julian shares his deep knowledge of what to do and what not to do when preparing your grant application – as well as sharing details of the specific grants disbursed by the Society, and other sources of grant funding from similar organisations.
Key moments
- Article
Getting started: a beginner's guide to expedition funding
Looking to fund your expedition? Discover effective and efficient approaches to secure the funding you need to launch your next field project.
- Article
Budgeting and finance: how to build a robust expedition budget
Looking to build a thorough and well-thought-out expedition budget? Learn all the essentials to get your project finances right first time.
- Article
Sharing your findings: how to write an enduring expedition report
Post-expedition reporting need not be a chore. Learn how to turn your findings into a comprehensive narrative that stands the test of time.
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