December can feel like a strange month for founders.

Half your brain is saying “push, push, push” and the other half is quietly whispering “please let me lie down.”

We want to be a good influence, so instead of diving headfirst into funding applications during those weird days of 'Crimbo Limbo' (which can be tempting to do), we urge you to recharge your fundraising batteries.

This is your reminder that you don’t need to force big decisions right now.

December is for marinating.
For scribbling half-thought ideas in your Notes app.
For letting your next funding narrative simmer so that, come January, you feel refreshed and ready.

Rest is crucial (did you know there are seven types of rest? (...SEVEN? We were only aware of one…in which you pass out on the sofa and wake up with a Quality Street stuck to your thigh.), and we’re fully behind getting it in spades. It’s the best strategy to prepare yourself to win funding when the new year rolls around.

However, we know how busy things can get. Let’s be honest: December might be the only time you get to focus on your first drafts.

If you can't resist the urge to work, or if getting a few things done would give you peace of mind, then here’s our top three tips to set yourself up for success in 2026.

1. Hold the applications

This is when trustees hibernate, panels postpone, and response times lag.

If you submit a bid in late December, you’re sending it into a digital void where it will nap (just like we’ll be doing 😴) in someone’s inbox until early January.

Of course, there are the odd exceptions. Sometimes you’ll see deadlines in the first week of December because funders want to tidy up their year.

We know some of you can’t resist: godspeed soldier, DO YOUR THING and we HOPE YOU WIN!!

2. Prepare for January

Those weird empty days between Christmas Day and New Year, where time has no shape and nobody knows what day it is?

If you’re starting to feel the itch to do something that contributes to your January funding spree, there are other things you can focus on.

You could:

✨ Refresh your founder story.
Is it telling funders what they need to know? Have a look at what others are saying. Is your story clear? Emotional? Compelling? Buddy up with another founder and do a re-draft of each other’s story to see what angles or points of view could be re-worked!

💻 Audit your website.
Are you building a waiting or launch list? It’s good to check that any pop-ups are up-to-date. It’s worth checking the “About Us” pages to make sure it’s still relevant because that’s where most people go to learn more about the team & mission behind a company

🔍 Go mining for social proof.
This can come in the form of endorsements from respected figures, testimonials from beneficiaries, or evidence of past successes. Metrics and testimonials will back up your mission; people trust word of mouth more than anything else. Save these in a spreadsheet or Airtable for easy access when you want to speed through applications in the new year.

3. Map what’s coming

Looking ahead to what funding will land in the new year will give you a serious advantage. This will mean you can use the holiday lull to tee up funds that look like a perfect match now, and gather materials you’ll need to start strong in the new year.

Look out for:

• Rolling funds
• Calls that close in Q1
• Programmes that reliably reopen every spring

☝️ Tip for members with Full Access to our Live Funding Database:
Use our ‘Closing soon’, ‘Coming soon’ and ‘Rolling deadline’ filter to quickly scan funding opportunities in the UK that might be ripe for applying when you get back to your desk.