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Seeking urgent funding solutions for a well-being charity (Anonymous post 🤫)

Trusts & Grants

Ocean King Staff Senior Community Executive at CharityConnect Posted 1 year ago

This question is from a member of our community that wishes to remain anonymous:

I've recently started working as a part-time fundraiser for a community interest company that provides well-being services.

There wasn't a fundraiser in post for a while and there has been no proper handover for me. I have recently discovered that one of our projects is about to run out of funding (in one month's time). I have an application to a previous funder ready to go, but of course the turnaround may be a few months. I will also be applying to our local council who accept request for urgent funding but again, I don't know what the turnaround is (have asked them but they are being very slow/not answering phone).

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas what to do in this situation? We will need to pause the project until we get funding which will be so disappointing for the people it supports (older people for whom the weekly yoga and community sessions are a lifeline). So I wondered if anyone knows any routes to receiving urgent funding, i.e. with a lead in time for a month?
Thank you

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Jimmy James Staff PANEL

Principal at Minerva Fundraising Consultancy 1 year ago

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Hi,

About the fastest funding I'm familiar with is the National Lottery Awards for All (A4E). They are quicker than the majority of grant-making trusts.

The application process (on-line) is quite simple too.

Maximum grant is £10,000, which must be spent within 12 months of the award date.

Good luck !

Jimmy

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Vanessa Eden Staff PANEL

Head of Fundraising at Open Sight Hampshire 1 year ago

Reach out to your Rotary, Lions and Masonic groups who very often have small pots of money available to help. With Rotary and Lions, there is usually a turnaround of a couple of weeks (depending on when they meet). I don't need to tell you how to suck eggs but you have a compelling story plus the urgency, so use it. Are you able to contact your local paper/radio and publicise the fact the funding is running out? Have you tried Social Media? Maybe not, if you are consulting a legal advisor but if you can, its worth a try. Good Luck!

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Mike Preston Staff PANEL

Between Roles at Between Roles 1 year ago

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Funding can take time to secure and drawdown, have you got a relationship with the previous funder. COuld you meet them to understand the likelihood for funding being provided? That way the trustees can take a risk based approach on how they handle the project. 'Pausing' projects is really difficult, and what normally happens is the project is 'Closed' so as there is clear message for service users, and it can also be a good driver for encouraging a quick decision on the new funding application.

As a trustee, if I had the confidence that the application was going to be approved, and the funding was going to be backdated to when the programme is due for renewal, I would feel comfortable using reserves to keep the project running, and await the funding.

There is just as much work involved in 'restarting a programme' as there is starting a new one, so if there is the understanding that a) the programme is fundable; b) it's attractive to funders and c) the charity believe that this a vital part of delivering on their charitable aims. I would exciurage you to use some reserves to keep the programme going. Obviously there would need to be a clear plan in place to support this approach, inclduing regular progress, close financial scrutininy, and a clear direction from the board that they are willing to do this.

My final point would also be either way, I would encourage you're charity to look at funding the programme from reserves for 3 months, that way you can plan the 'Closure' or 'pause' and manage the experience of the service users

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Annika Coughlin Staff PANEL

Business Support Officer at Headway Luton 1 year ago

Have you asked the members if they would be able to contribute to the sessions? There may be some willing and able to pay, at least for a bridging period?

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Bob Snarey Staff PANEL

Director at writing.fund 1 year ago

The following is a strategy that I put together for a CIC that offer Mental Health support for young adults. They were able to get local business sponsorship quite quickly.

Here are several steps and alternative avenues you might consider to secure urgent funding for your project:

Expedite Current Applications:
- Reach out to the previous funder and the local council explaining the urgency of your situation. Provide them with tangible data on the impact of the project and what it would mean for the beneficiaries if the project were to pause.
Explore Emergency Grants:
- Some foundations and governmental bodies offer emergency grants for situations like this. Look for local or national grant opportunities that have expedited review processes.
Crowdfunding:
- Launch a crowdfunding campaign on platforms like GoFundMe, JustGiving, or Crowdfunder. Share the campaign widely within your community and on social media.
Local Business Sponsorships:
- Approach local businesses for sponsorship or donations. Businesses might be willing to support community projects, especially those that directly impact the local population.
Community Fundraising Events:
- Organise quick fundraising events within your community. These could be virtual or in-person events like charity walks, bake sales, or online auctions.
Engage Your Beneficiaries and Volunteers:
- Mobilise your beneficiaries and volunteers to spread the word and help with fundraising efforts. Their testimonials could be powerful in eliciting support.
Utilise Social Media and Local Media:
- Share your story and the urgency of the funding need on social media and local media outlets. A well-articulated article or video could help garner community support.
Contact Similar Organisations:
- Reach out to other community interest companies or non-profits in your area or in a similar field. They might have leads on potential funders or other resources.
Temporary Partnerships:
- Form temporary partnerships with other local organisations to share resources and continue providing essential services to your beneficiaries until you secure the needed funding.
Consult with a Fundraising Advisor:
- If possible, consult with a professional fundraising advisor who might have specific strategies for emergency fundraising.
Maintain Open Communication:
- Keep open communication with your beneficiaries, explaining the situation, and assuring them that you are actively working on solutions.

By exploring multiple avenues and mobilising various segments of your community, you might be able to bridge the funding gap and continue delivering the vital services your project provides.

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