Draft a funding application
Use AI as a thinking partner and sounding board as you develop your first draft funding application.
Steps
1. Describe the task
Before you write a word, it helps to think clearly about whether this application is worth pursuing - and if so, what your strongest angle is. This is where the AI can be useful as a thinking partner, not just a drafting tool.
Share what you know about the funder and your work, and use the conversation to test your thinking. Is there a strong fit? What evidence of need do you have? What makes your approach distinctive? Working through these questions before you start drafting will make the whole application stronger.
Copy and paste this prompt into the chat box, then send it as is - there's nothing to edit first. The AI will respond with questions rather than a draft. That's by design as it needs context before it can produce something useful. Answer as if you're briefing a colleague, and if you're unsure of an answer, just say so - working it out together is part of the process.
Act as an experienced charity fundraiser with a strong understanding of the UK funding landscape.
Before I start writing, help me think through:
- How well do we fit this funder’s priorities - and are there any gaps or risks in our application?
- What is our strongest angle for this particular funder?
- What evidence of need should we lead with?
- Are there any aspects of our work or approach that are especially relevant to what they fund?
- What questions should I be asking before I start drafting?
Start by asking me questions about: our organisation and our work; which funder I’m applying to, their focus area and priorities; and the grant, project and the the amount we’re considering applying for. Then ask if I have any drafts or notes to upload. Then help me think it through.
As we talk this through, watch out for and flag: any weaknesses or mismatches. I’d rather know now than after I’ve submitted.
2. Provide context
As you answer the AI’s questions, you can upload documents or paste in information to help it understand your work more deeply. Rough notes and bullet points are fine.
Important context (add as much of this as you can)
- The funder’s guidelines: their priorities, eligibility criteria, and any word limits
- A description of your project: what you plan to do, who it is for, and how long it will run
- Evidence of need: data, research, or lived experience that shows the problem exists and matters
- Your outcomes: what you expect to change for the individuals and communities you work with
Additional context to add depth and detail
- Previous applications to this or similar funders, to help match tone and structure
- Beneficiary quotes or case studies, to bring your work to life
- Your organisation’s track record; similar projects you have delivered successfully
- Partnership letters or support from other organisations
- Budget draft or cost breakdown, even rough figures help
Before you upload files: check for sensitive data
Review your documents for personal or sensitive information about beneficiaries. Anonymise names and identifying details before uploading. Even though Worthwhile Chat is privacy-first, good data practice starts with you. If you're using other AI tools, check their data settings too - many train on your data by default. How much you share depends on your existing privacy and data policies, and how much control you have over the tools you use.
If you’re unsure, ask yourself: “If this document were seen by someone outside our organisation, could anyone be identified or harmed?” If yes, anonymise first.
I’ve uploaded the funder’s guidelines and some background on our work. Please use these as the basis for our conversation - and flag anything that looks like a weak spot or a gap in our case.
3. Review the output
A first draft will be generated based on the conversation and context you’ve shared. The AI may ask clarifying questions - for example, to check a budget figure or confirm an outcome. Answer as fully as you can.
Read through the draft and ask yourself:
- Does this accurately reflect what we plan to do?
- Are the outcomes specific and measurable - or do they feel vague?
- Is the evidence of need strong and credible?
- Are the people we support described in a way they’d be comfortable reading about themselves?
- Does anything feel overstated or hard to evidence?
- Are there sections that feel thin and need more of our own knowledge added?
- Does the budget section clearly explain how the money will be used?
If something doesn’t feel right, that’s fine, you can refine it in the next step.
4. Follow up prompts
Use the first draft as a starting point to refine with your authentic voice. Think of this as a conversation and sounding board — keep going until it genuinely sounds like your organisation has written it.
Ask for revisions
If the first output isn’t quite there, try instructions like:
Tone:
- “The tone feels a bit formal - can you make it warmer and more direct?”
- “Rewrite the outcomes section to more closely match the funder’s language around [their priority theme].”
Length:
- “The funder has a 500-word limit for this section — please cut it down.”
Structure:
- “The funder cares a lot about community leadership — can you bring that out more strongly in the ‘about us’ section?”
- “Can you strengthen the evidence of need section using the data I provided?”
- “The outcomes feel a bit vague — can you make them more specific and measurable?”
- “Lead with the beneficiary story instead of the statistics.”
Representation:
- “The section on [group we support] sounds a bit ‘done to’ — rewrite it so they come across as active and capable.”
If you’re not happy with the first draft, you can always start a fresh conversation with slightly different instructions. Sometimes that gets you closer to what you need.
Add what only you know
You know your work, your beneficiaries and what you’re trying to achieve better than any AI. Once you have a solid draft, refine it with the things that your organisation knows best:
- Specific stories or examples from your work
- The names of key delivery partners
- Anything that makes your approach distinctive
- Your honest assessment of the risks and how you’ll manage them — funders often appreciate this
5. Tips and good practice
Do a funder’s-eye review
As you write your application, you might get too close to it to spot problems. Get someone else in your team to read it as if they were a funder seeing your organisation for the first time. Ask: is it clear what problem this solves? Is it obvious why this organisation is the right one to do it? Is the budget realistic and well-justified? The AI can also do this in a new chat - just ask it to spot gaps and challenge your logic.
Always verify your facts and figures
Check every statistic, quote, and claim against your original sources before submitting. The AI is there to support your thinking — not to replace your knowledge of your own work. A factual error in a funding application can undermine your credibility with a funder.
Be careful with quotes
If you include quotes from beneficiaries, service users, or partners, make sure you have their consent and that they’re happy with how they have been represented. Remove names or identifying details for anyone who has not given consent.
Be transparent about AI use
Consider noting that AI tools were used in drafting your application, particularly if the funder asks. More organisations are being open about this, and it’s in line with our Worthwhile AI values. Using AI to help draft is not the same as having AI write your application — your knowledge, judgement and review are what make it yours.
Save your work for next time
Once you have a strong application:
- Save your prompt and the context documents you used
- Note which parts of the thinking conversation were most useful
- Keep a copy of the final version as a reference for future applications to the same funder
This will make your next application faster to produce and easier to tailor.
