Ruth Gerrard
Developing well-crafted bids and analysis for climate and nature
I am a freelancer working with organisations to turn ambitious project ideas into strong bids capable of securing major funding. I also create analysis, tools and resources to help shape ideas and improve delivery across UK charities, CICs, community energy groups and local authorities.
Together, we can progress more high-quality projects to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.
Securing major funding for environmental projects is challenging – opportunities are limited, and competition is high. When opportunities arise, it’s really important to get things right.
If you’re preparing a large, multi-partner or strategically important bid, I can help develop your vision into a strong application that will stand out to funders – ensuring your theory of change is watertight, the narrative is compelling, and all aspects of the bid form a cohesive whole. Because I work exclusively with the environmental non‑profit and public sector, I bring nearly two decades of relevant sector experience to help guide your approach.
My bid‑writing experience also informs my grant‑making support. I’ve designed regional and national funding processes and been part of grant-making panel decisions.
Alongside this, I offer complementary skills in GIS mapping, data analysis, design, conference reporting and the creation of tools and resources to support project development.
“Ruth quickly understood our project, identified holes in the logic, and pushed us to strengthen the case. She then produced a really high‑quality bid in just two weeks. It was a lesson in how much of a specialism bid writing is.”
~ Energy Charity
16
years fundraising for UK environmental non-profits
75+
successful bids
£13m+
secured through bids I’ve led
Services
I support charities, other non-profits and public bodies with strategic bids, programme development and practical tools.
Strategic Bid Writing
Compelling applications for large, innovative or strategic non-profit project funding.
Programme Development
Analysis and insight to strengthen project design and grant-making processes.
Tools & Resources
Practical, user‑friendly tools that support strategy, budgeting and learning.
Portfolio highlights
Below are some key projects showcasing the breadth of my experience, with client quotes.
Keeping it Wild with London Wildlife Trust
The Keeping it Wild programme supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds into environmental careers and activism. I helped the youth team turn their vision and wealth of evidence into strong proposals for extension and expansion, securing over £800,000 in total from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and National Lottery’s Reaching Communities fund.
“I’ve been really impressed with Ruth’s careful attention to detail, her excellent communication skills, and her strong writing skills. She knows what questions to ask to write the best possible application. I’ve really enjoyed working with Ruth and would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a bid writer who specialises in the environmental sector.”
Community Energy Fund with the Net Zero Hubs
Now rebranded as the Great British Energy Community Energy Fund, this is the UK Government’s main fund to support development of community energy projects. I wrote the application forms, guidance and marking matrix, working with the Hubs – led by South West Net Zero Hub – and taking a steer from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on requirements. This work built on my previous grant-making experience, including the national Urban Community Energy Fund.
“Ruth has been a pleasure to work with. Her attention to detail and understanding of the work consistently ensures excellent quality in her delivery.”
Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) Toolkit with South West Net Zero Hub
LEAD was a national programme of 30+ projects testing innovative approaches to community energy advice. I created a toolkit of resources, capturing project learnings, for the six south-west region projects. I also created a national learnings report from the England-wide LEAD conference, which was coordinated by South West Net Zero Hub. The toolkit is online here.
“Ruth’s work is skilful, and she can bring together multiple sources of information into dynamic, engaging formats. She brings a wealth of knowledge. Ruth has been a pleasure to work with and has created wonderful products for us.”
Restoring the River Crane with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV)
I developed a successful £212,000 bid to the UK Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, administered through the National Lottery Heritage Fund using their standard application processes. The project brought together local authority, charity and grassroots partners to create an inclusive project in a diverse neighbourhood.
“Ruth has a highly developed ability to quickly assess the suitability of grant opportunities, bringing in the right people and tailoring the argument to best effect. Combined with her strong research skills, word‑smithing and work ethic, she’s hard to beat. I thoroughly recommend her.”
Programme Analysis with the Welsh Wildlife Trusts
I undertook an internal programme analysis for the five Welsh Wildlife Trusts, coordinated alongside Wildlife Trusts Wales. The work involved gathering and summarising a large volume of information about past projects from the Trusts and contextualising the information to support future programme development in the Welsh funding context.
“A very thorough, excellent report with in‑depth analysis. I’d highly recommend Ruth.”
Full Cost Recovery (FCR) and Training with TCV
While employed as a regional Development Manager, I built a national full cost recovery model to automate and provide robust, auditable calculations to underpin project budgets, accompanied by a training video and training sessions. Due to specific internal needs around TCV’s dispersed delivery model, the tool required a more complex approach than typical FCR methods.
“That spreadsheet is a work of art. I really appreciated how clearly you explained the concepts and functionality together — it suited my learning style far better than most training. I’ve gone from being completely baffled by FCR to feeling confident enough to give it a go.”
Ready to start something good?
Let’s explore how I can support your next bid or project.