How To Find New Funding

Ian McLintock

Founder at Charity Excellence Framework

Member for more than two years • 250 Threads. 217 Comments.

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.