Getting grants from any government etc agency is a nightmare.
You have to do a lot of work up front, with no guarantee of getting the grant.
The grant will allways require matched funding, for example the HLF will expect 25% matched funding.
That 25% can be in the form of volunteer hours etc.
The key is to tailor your application in line with the grant conditions.
So if they say sorry we're not giving you more cash, its probable that you have asked in the wrong way.
For example if the HLF say they only fund capital projects then that is what you have to apply for.
So with the Vulcan they should be applying for a grant to build a new hangar on a new site.
The grant can only be used for that purpose but would certainly reduce the operating costs.
There are plenty of other capital expenditure projects that they could be applying for to reduce the operating costs.
Forgot to say, one condition of a HLF grant is evidence has to be provided of the viability of the project going beyond the grant and to show its sustainability.
i would love to see the business plan for TVOC
Geoff