If something has been successful then you will want to repeat this, so you should document good practice.
Similarly, if something has gone wrong then you will want to avoid this happening again in the future.
The need for an Internal Review is paramount to your continued fundraising success.
There are three key points at which your fundraising group or committee should meet to review its activities: 1.
Once you have sent off the application form - to review the fundraising strategy used 2.
Once you have received a decision - to agree the project plan if successful, or agree a new strategy if unsuccessful 3.
At the mid point of the project to review future fundraising requirements of ongoing projects.
What to Include in a Funding Plan? · Fundraising committee level - were you all clear about what your role was on the application(s), what have you achieved, what is left to do and do you need some new ideas or members to help with future plans? · Project level - a review of each existing externally funded project(s) should inform future fundraising activity.
For example, admin and overhead costs may be done as guesswork in the first few instances, but over time you will get to know how much admin, overheads, insurance and sundries to attach as realistic budget items.
Learning From the Turn-Down If you receive a rejection letter from a funder, think of it like receiving feedback from a job interview.
If rejection reasons are not stated or very limited, then telephone the funder to request additional feedback.
Don't attack the grants officer, this way you won't get much out of them.
Instead, make the call once you've recovered from the news and try to be pleasant.
You want to learn from the process for next time and it may simply be a case that there wasn't enough funding available.
More fundraising tips to get you to the top of the pile! 1.
Speak to your Manager/Director - Leadership provides fuel and direction so try to work closely with senior staff at your organisation.
2.
Decide your goals - Why not ask clients/members/visitors to suggest the three things that would most improve your group/service? You may be surprised by the results! Collect this information through existing forums: · Noticeboards and questionnaires at events · Agenda items 3.
Adopt project champions - Do your groups fundraising projects have champions who will speak for their value and importance to families and the community? 4.
Research your local area - One of the best places to find local area statistics is the Neighborhood Statistics Service, where you can type in your groups postcode and receive a range of economic and population statistics.
Visit http://www.
neighbourhood.
statistics.
gov.
uk 5.
Check out the grants awarded to others - Visit the lottery site http://www.
lottery.
culture.
gov.
uk and find out what other grants have been made in your area.
Were you surprised by any of the types of activities on the list? What is you doing that is similar? 6.
Find out what's available - All web savvy fundraisers should make use of a grants database 7.
Set up a Grants Working Party! - Explore the idea of a dedicated sub-group or committee to try and bring in the much needed money to support the group.
This way, tasks can be divided.
Conclusion Meeting the expectations of the founder at the same time as delivering a project subjected to delays and changes is not easy.
Very few organizations deliver a project exactly as intended or how it appeared in their original grant application.
Our accredited course teaches you how to embed monitoring and evaluation into your projects and the best way to negotiate with a funding body.
Similarly, if something has gone wrong then you will want to avoid this happening again in the future.
The need for an Internal Review is paramount to your continued fundraising success.
There are three key points at which your fundraising group or committee should meet to review its activities: 1.
Once you have sent off the application form - to review the fundraising strategy used 2.
Once you have received a decision - to agree the project plan if successful, or agree a new strategy if unsuccessful 3.
At the mid point of the project to review future fundraising requirements of ongoing projects.
What to Include in a Funding Plan? · Fundraising committee level - were you all clear about what your role was on the application(s), what have you achieved, what is left to do and do you need some new ideas or members to help with future plans? · Project level - a review of each existing externally funded project(s) should inform future fundraising activity.
For example, admin and overhead costs may be done as guesswork in the first few instances, but over time you will get to know how much admin, overheads, insurance and sundries to attach as realistic budget items.
Learning From the Turn-Down If you receive a rejection letter from a funder, think of it like receiving feedback from a job interview.
If rejection reasons are not stated or very limited, then telephone the funder to request additional feedback.
Don't attack the grants officer, this way you won't get much out of them.
Instead, make the call once you've recovered from the news and try to be pleasant.
You want to learn from the process for next time and it may simply be a case that there wasn't enough funding available.
More fundraising tips to get you to the top of the pile! 1.
Speak to your Manager/Director - Leadership provides fuel and direction so try to work closely with senior staff at your organisation.
2.
Decide your goals - Why not ask clients/members/visitors to suggest the three things that would most improve your group/service? You may be surprised by the results! Collect this information through existing forums: · Noticeboards and questionnaires at events · Agenda items 3.
Adopt project champions - Do your groups fundraising projects have champions who will speak for their value and importance to families and the community? 4.
Research your local area - One of the best places to find local area statistics is the Neighborhood Statistics Service, where you can type in your groups postcode and receive a range of economic and population statistics.
Visit http://www.
neighbourhood.
statistics.
gov.
uk 5.
Check out the grants awarded to others - Visit the lottery site http://www.
lottery.
culture.
gov.
uk and find out what other grants have been made in your area.
Were you surprised by any of the types of activities on the list? What is you doing that is similar? 6.
Find out what's available - All web savvy fundraisers should make use of a grants database 7.
Set up a Grants Working Party! - Explore the idea of a dedicated sub-group or committee to try and bring in the much needed money to support the group.
This way, tasks can be divided.
Conclusion Meeting the expectations of the founder at the same time as delivering a project subjected to delays and changes is not easy.
Very few organizations deliver a project exactly as intended or how it appeared in their original grant application.
Our accredited course teaches you how to embed monitoring and evaluation into your projects and the best way to negotiate with a funding body.