• Sign in Join CharityConnect
  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Community standards policy
  • Privacy Policy

Powered by

Back

The charity network that helps you shine.

Join 18,820 professionals and find your community in the UK charity sector.

Join CharityConnect

How To Find New Funding

Ian McLintock Founder at Charity Excellence Framework Posted 5 years ago

Close popup

{{badgesCtrl.userFirstName}}'s badges

Helper’s Badge Level One
Level 1 of 5
This badge is awarded to members who have had a comment marked as Helpful
Helper’s Badge Level Two
Level 2 of 5
This badge is awarded to members who have had 5 comments marked as Helpful
Helper’s Badge Level Three
Level 3 of 5
This badge is awarded to members who have had 10 comments marked as Helpful
Helper’s Badge Level Four
Level 4 of 5
This badge is awarded to members who have had 20 comments marked as Helpful
Helper’s Badge Level Five
Level 5 of 5
Superstar! This badge is awarded to members who have had 30 comments marked as Helpful
CharityConnect: How To Find New Funding
This article is a resource from the Charity Excellence Framework online toolkit. Which technique have you had most success with?  
To access the full article of 18 ideas, register here. It takes 2 mins and the online toolkit, its huge range of resources and the quality mark are all completely free.
1.  Rekindle Old Relationships, Check Your CRM/Files
Check your CRM or fundraising files, to identify who supported you in the past. These may be a long-time ago, but they liked you enough to fund you and there may still be someone around who has/had a relationship with them.
2.  Grow Current Relationships, By Reaching Out
Check with your trustees, high level supporters and anyone else relevant, to see if any of them have a relationship with trusts, companies, or people with money, networks, influence or status who may be willing to help you.
3.  Find New Funders, Already Engaged With Your Cause
Download the annual accounts of sister charities and look to see who has funded them, as these are trusts who are engaged with your kind of work.
4.  Find New Funders That Might Support Your Cause
Run searches for suitable trusts and foundations. You can pay for access to online databases. However, the CEF includes a list of 50 free funding finders (here are some of them). 
5. Find New Funders Using Pre-researched Lists
Everybody is really busy and funding research can be a bit of a black art, so the the Charity Excellence Framework makes it easier for you, by including a whole range of lists, some with more than 150 funders - core costs, corporate foundations, buildings & equipment, social enterprises, start-ups, crisis & less popular causes, young people, education, older people, unincorporated, Armed Forces, animals, heritage & churches, and hospices. Simply download the one you want, job done.
6.  Find New Fundraising Sources, Because Diversifying Is Good
Doing more of what you’re good at makes sense, but so does trying something new and it also helps to diversify your income. Each fundraising technique has its own benefits, albeit it almost always takes time and at least some investment. There are lots of options to choose from. The CEF has an entire fundraising strategy toolkit I’ve created, but you can find some guidance I’ve published here. 
7.  Finding New Funding Sources, Don’t Forget Government Contracts
a.      Contracts Finder - public sector contracts and e mail alerts.
b.     Supply Change - platform for social enterprises to access public sector contracts.
c.      Open Ops - commercial, but contract data is free, claims to have more that Contracts Finder and it works globally.
8.      Consider New Methods of Funding, Because Why Not?
Try the Good Finance online social investment tool.  
9.      Get Expert Help To Secure Funding
There are more than 10,000 trust in the UK, distributing more than £2bn each year, so there is merit in considering engaging a professional to help you find the most suitable. The CEF runs a fundraising freelancer register, as a charitable activity, that is both free to join and use. Contact me at [email protected] if you wish to know more.
10.      Claim What You’re Already Entitled To – Gift Aid
Each year, we fail to claim £600m in Gift Aid. There are several types and it might appear a bit complicated, so here’s everything you need to know and how to do it.
11.      Why Pay, When You Can Get It For Free?
The Charity Excellence mantra! There are 200+ organisations that provide free goods, services and help on the system itself, but you can find 60+ here.
Report
{{postCtrl.totalLikes}} Like
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Whatsapp

Optional. An image can be added at the top of the comment. Images must be in PNG, GIF or JPG format. Unsplash.com is a great source for royalty free and high quality photos.

No responses yet. Be the first to reply!

{{ctrlComment.postTotalComments}} responses

Load more responses
See previous comments
See new comments

Related posts

Network Rail Community Fund

Ian McLintock

Fundraising

Lloyds Bank Foundation - Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations Fund

Ian McLintock

Fundraising

Thoughts on joining your Chamber of Commerce?

Tom Bailey

Fundraising

How to go about promoting donations through Amazon's Wish List? (Anonymous post 🤫)

Ocean King

Fundraising

Grant finding tools

Paul Pirie

Fundraising

  • About us
  • Privacy
  • Community standards policy
  • Terms
  • Advertise with us

Powered by

© 2025 JobLadder

Report an issue

Help us keep CharityConnect safe and friendly by reporting spam or abusive behaviour.

What's the issue with this content?

How is this content abusive or harmful?

Report an abusive behaviour

Likes

{{ item.UserName }}

{{ item.UserName }}

{{ item.UserJobTitle }} at {{ item.UserOrganisationName }}

Show More

Likes

{{ item.UserName }}

{{ item.UserName }}

{{ item.UserJobTitle }} at {{ item.UserOrganisationName }}

Show More
{{ msg }}

Sign in

Like this? You'll love what we've got inside. Sign in to like this post and see more

Forgot password

Don't have an account? Join CharityConnect today.

{{ rootCtrl.infoModal.getTitle() }}

{{ rootCtrl.infoModal.getBody() }}

Likes

{{ item.UserName }}

{{ item.UserName }}

{{ item.UserJobTitle }} at {{ item.UserOrganisationName }}

Show More