Creating a fund on ActionFunder is simple, and it’s the first step in connecting with grassroots projects that align with your goals. This guide walks you through each stage of setting up your fund on the platform.
1. Log into your account
To get started, log into your ActionFunder funder account. If you don’t yet have an account, head over to our sign-up page to create one – it only takes a minute.
2. Click ‘Create a Fund’
From your dashboard, click the ‘Create a Fund’ button. This will open the fund builder where you can start entering the key details about your fund.
3. Add your fund criteria (Page 1)
The fund criteria determines what kind of non-profits and projects can apply for funding. Our platform automatically matches projects with relevant funds based on location, focus area, beneficiary type, funding amount required, and type of organisation. If a project matches a fund’s criteria, it will ‘match’ with the fund.
As you build the fund you’ll see the local needs analysis for the area you have selected. If there’s a broader focus, beneficiary type and location, more projects will be matched. These numbers are just the start. Once your fund is open, relevant non-profits will be notified and encouraged to apply.
To determine your fund’s criteria, select the:
- Catchment area – Choose from UK wide, a mile-based radius, a Local Authority or draw a bespoke area.
- Focus area – These align with the Sustainable Development Goals. Projects only need to match with one focus area, but could match with multiple.
- Beneficiary types – Choose from up to 13 beneficiary types if there are certain groups you want to target
- Non-profit types – Which types of organisation are allowed to apply. We suggest ticking all three to see a broad range of organisations.
- Fund amount – Set the total fund amount as well as the minimum and maximum grant size.
- Fund name – Choose a name that reflects your goals or organisation. This will be public-facing.
4. Fund details (Page 2)
- Fund description – We recommend outlining the goals or objectives of the fund / what you want to achieve and dictating what a successful application should include. Explain the type of projects you’d like to fund and guide non-profits to apply with the best chance of being successful.
- Application period – which sets how long the fund will be open. We suggest 4 weeks are needed for fund promotion and to give non-profits time to apply.
- Selection date – is the deadline by which you will finalise your funding decisions. This date is important for transparency, as it ensures that non-profits are aware of when they can expect an answer on their application. It’s important to take into account your decision-making process and how long it will take to review and evaluate all applications before setting this date.
- Project delivery deadline – which indicates when you’d like funded projects to complete and submit their impact report. This is just a guide and projects with a longer delivery timeline will still be submitted to your fund.
- Promotion (optional) – add a hashtag to help promote your fund
5. Finalise (page 3)
In the final step, you’ll be asked to review and accept ActionFunder’s Terms & Conditions. This ensures you’re aligned with our platform standards and funding process. You’ll also have the option to read more about our due diligence approach – important information that explains how we verify and support the non-profits you’ll be funding.
Once everything looks good, you can either save your fund as a draft to come back to later or click ‘Finish’ to submit your fund for a quick review by our team. We do a final check to make sure everything’s in place before your fund goes live and starts matching with community projects.
6. What happens next?
- You’ll begin receiving project matches as soon as your fund goes live
- Non-profits will also be notified of your fund and may submit new projects
- You’ll be able to shortlist, score, and fund projects directly from your dashboard
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Still have questions? Your Customer Success Manager is here to help, or reach out to us at customersuccess@actionfunder.org.