At Boomerang Cardiff, we’ve always believed in using innovation to tackle real-world challenges. From recycling furniture to powering our hub with solar energy, we’ve found creative ways to stretch resources and maximise impact. But one of the biggest challenges facing not only us but charities across the UK has always been funding, and in particular, the long, stressful process of writing grant applications.

That’s why we’re incredibly proud to share the story of Bid Winner, a groundbreaking new grant writing software created by one of our own senior management team members, Dave Summers.

Born from Experience

Dave isn’t just a senior leader at Boomerang Cardiff, he’s someone who has lived and breathed the struggles of the third sector for over a decade. From delivering essential projects to supporting people through homelessness, poverty, and disadvantage, Dave has seen first-hand the amount of time and energy small charities spend on fundraising paperwork.

Like so many in the sector, he’s spent countless nights perfecting grant applications, only to face rejection because the bid didn’t quite “land” with funders. He knew there had to be a better way.

From Struggle to Innovation

Alongside his role at Boomerang Cardiff, Dave also runs his own AI technology business, Cymru AI. Through this venture he explores how artificial intelligence can be harnessed for social good, not just in business, but in tackling the challenges faced by communities and charities.

It was through Cymru AI that Bid Winner was born: an AI-powered web application designed to make grant writing faster, smarter, and less stressful.

What Makes Bid Winner Different?

• Charity-first design: Built specifically for charities and CICs, not just another generic AI tool.
• Profile once, use forever: Enter your organisation’s details once, and reuse them across every application.
• AI-powered drafting: Paste in a funder’s question, and Bid Winner instantly creates a professional, funder-ready draft.
• Smart tools built-in: From the Budget Builder to the Application Tracker and Document Storage, everything is designed to save time and improve accuracy.
• Funder Alignment Tool: Helps charities assess whether their project fits a funder’s priorities before wasting time on applications.

Levelling the Playing Field

Large charities often have entire fundraising teams, while smaller organisations rely on overstretched staff and volunteers. Bid Winner levels the playing field, giving every charity access to the same professional-level bid writing support.

By reducing application time from 20–40 hours down to under an hour, Bid Winner frees up teams to focus on what really matters: delivering impact in their communities.

Why This Matters to Boomerang Cardiff

At Boomerang Cardiff, we know how crucial funding is to keeping our services running — from our Pay It Forward HUB to our Christmas Gift Appeal. Having Bid Winner developed by one of our own team members is something we’re incredibly proud of.

It’s not just another tech product. It’s a tool born from real charity-sector struggles, backed by AI expertise through Cymru AI, and built to support the very organisations that make a difference on the frontlines of poverty, homelessness, and inequality.

Get Involved

👉 Find out more about Bid Winner grant writing tool here: www.winning-bid.com

We’re proud to support Dave’s vision and excited to see how Bid Winner helps transform the fundraising landscape for small charities across the UK.