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THE BRITISH EYESIGHT RESEARCH FOUNDATION - FIGHT FOR SIGHT CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS Grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 are available to UK grassroots organisations including registered charities, Community Interest Companies and partnerships for supporting the creation of a sight loss sector that is coherent, sustainable, and resilient to the rising demand for equal service provision across the UK. The British Eye Foundation’s Fight for Life Capacity Building Fund is designed to support the creation of a sight loss sector that is coherent, sustainable, and resilient to the rising demand for equal service provision across the UK. By supporting and empowering grassroots organisations and fostering collaboration within the sector and between the sector and external organisations, the funding is intended to address challenges that are preventing the growth and sustainability of services. The Capacity Building grants will focus on two key areas to help make the wider sector become more sustainable, resilient and better able to respond to the needs of those with vision loss, these are: 1. Collaboration between organisations within the sight loss sector and between the sight loss sector and external organisations, and 2. Small charities and grassroots organisations. The Fund is designed to support organisations to overcome barriers to increasing their capacity (please note that funding is not designed for specific projects). Grant applications could include (but are not limited to): o A contribution towards core costs. o A merger of organisations, and/or o A strengthening of systems and processes. Grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 are available. Grants are not available for individuals. Further information, guidelines and details about how to apply are available on the British Eye Research Foundation Fight for Sight webpages. https://buff.ly/2LF0ag9 The deadline for applications is 9am on Tuesday 7th January 2025. Contact details for the Foundation are: The British Eye Research Foundation Fight For Sight 18 Mansell Street London E1 8AA Email: info@fightforsight.org.uk For help making a strong bid contact @Heaward Solutions Thank you, to @GRIN SW LLP who shared this opportunity in their daily grant bulletin. #Grant #Fundraising #Charity #Community #CIC #SightLoss

MAXIMISING YOUR ORGANISATION'S FUNDRAISING POTENTIAL BEYOND GRANTS AND CONTRACTS In today’s dynamic funding landscape, relying solely on grants and public sector commissioning is extremely risky. Diversifying income streams can bolster financial resilience and sustainability. Here are the essentials not for profit leaders should prioritise to unlock new fundraising opportunities: 1. Clear and Compelling Case for Support What makes your organisation stand out? Ensure your case for support is powerful, clear, and tailored to different audiences. It should articulate the problem you solve, the impact of your work, and why donors should invest in your mission. 2. Identify and Build the Right Audience A lot of fundraising depends on the nature and size of your audience and your ability to communicate with them. Decide who might be interested in your work and the kind of content that would enjoy. Then work out how you can regularly reach them with this content to help spark an interest and build their engagement. 3. Strong Donor Relationships Fundraising is about relationships, not transactions. Build meaningful connections with individual donors, corporate partners, and community supporters. A robust CRM system can help you track these interactions and steward your supporters effectively. 4. Diversified Fundraising Activities Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Explore diverse approaches such as individual giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships, legacy giving, and events. Make sure each aligns with your brand and capacity. 5. Invest in Digital Fundraising A strong online presence is non-negotiable. Your website and social media channels should be optimised to inspire action, whether it’s donations, event sign-ups, or sharing your message. Make it easy for people to give with user-friendly donation platforms. 6. Empowered Fundraising Team Whether you have an in-house team or rely on volunteers, ensure they have the right tools, training, and resources to succeed. Leaders should champion fundraising efforts and encourage collaboration across the organisation. 7. Impact Measurement and Storytelling Data drives decisions. Track your outcomes and use them to tell compelling stories that resonate with donors. Demonstrating the tangible impact of their support is key to building trust and long-term loyalty. 8. Culture of Fundraising Fundraising is everyone’s responsibility. Foster a culture where staff, trustees, and volunteers feel confident and engaged in promoting your mission and fundraising efforts. The charities that thrive in fundraising are those that balance strategic planning with genuine passion for their mission. If your organisation is ready to take its next step, what’s your priority for 2024? For help in ensuring your organisation is set up for fundraising success contact @Heaward Solutions. #Fundraising #NonprofitLeadership #CharityStrategy #SocialEnteprise

HARNESSING DATA TO DRIVE IMPACT - HOW TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE KPIs The ability to provide powerful data to evidence an organisation's outcomes and impact is vital to effective bid writing. However, it's common that this is an area of real weakness with many not-for-profits only gathering easier but weaker key performance indicators around their inputs and outputs. CEOs and trustees must understand the power of data in showcasing their organisation's effectiveness and securing stakeholder confidence. However, turning input and output data into meaningful outcomes and impact KPIs can feel challenging. Here’s how to approach it: 1. Start with Your Mission Your KPIs must align with your mission. What change do you aim to achieve? For example: * Input: Number of volunteers trained. * Output: Number of support sessions delivered. * Outcome: Improvement in service users’ confidence (measured through surveys). * Impact: Long-term reduction in homelessness rates in your community. 2. Engage Stakeholders Collaborate with service users, staff, and funders to identify what success looks like. Their perspectives will shape KPIs that matter. 3. Use SMART Principles KPIs should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, "by the end of the year, 80% of participants will report improved mental well-being, measured via a validated tool". 4. Balance Quantitative and Qualitative Data Numbers tell part of the story, but testimonials and case studies bring outcomes to life. Combine both for a holistic view. 5. Leverage Tools and Frameworks Adopt frameworks like the Theory of Change or the Outcome Star to map inputs to impacts. They ensure clarity and consistency. 6. Continuously Review and Adapt KPIs are not set in stone. Regularly review them against evolving needs and feedback to stay relevant. Whilst important developing robust outcome and impact KPIs isn’t just about ticking boxes for funders, it’s about demonstrating your charity’s transformational work. When done right, these metrics not only highlight progress but also strengthen your case for support and galvanize your team’s efforts. How has your organisation approached developing KPIs? I’d love to hear your insights or challenges! #Charity #ImpactMeasurement #Fundraising #NotForProfit #Community

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGISTS CHARITY GRANTS The Worshipful Company of Information Technologist’s Charity (WCIT) is a national charity with a City of London home. Its purpose is to use the power of tech for impact through digital inclusion, education, charitable, and public engagement initiatives across the entire UK. The Charity works with a wide range of registered charities and not-for-profit organisations that depend on external financial support and specialist skills to realise their IT initiatives. All projects funded by the WCIT Charity must make use of information technology and relate to one or more of its priority areas: o Education. o Inclusion. o IT for charities, and/or o Public understanding of IT. WCIT is more likely to fund: o The development and delivery of innovative new services, solutions, training, apps, analytics, AI, robotics, or accessibility features/hardware. o Projects where WCIT is the material or sole funder. o Projects where WCIT is the sole funder of the IT component of a larger project, and o Organisations that could benefit from WCIT’s pro bono support. Projects need to demonstrate an innovative use of IT, be scalable for wider replication, and be sustainable over time. Grants of up to £15,000 are available. Applicants for grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 will be required to provide details of an unrelated external referee relating to the charity’s project or service delivery history. In exceptional circumstances, grants of over £15,000 may be made, although such grants are subject to additional scrutiny. During the year ended 31st December 2023, the Charity awarded grants totalling £101,109 (2022: £230,960; 2021: £229,179). Awards ranged from under £5,000 to £29,565. Funding is not available for: o Consultancy costs. o Core running costs (including the operational running costs of existing IT infrastructure). o Loans/debt repayments. o Local authorities or councils. o Political/lobbying work. o Projects that seek to build an endowment, or o Work that has already been delivered/existing services. WCIT is less likely to fund a hardware refresh (e.g. replaceing laptops/desktops), off the shelf software packages, websites, network and telephony costs, migration to cloud services, large national charities with significant income and reserves, or projects where its contribution and impact may be very small. The next deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 10th February 2025. There should be further application deadlines in May, August and October/November 2025. Contact details for the charity are: F Haythorne Company Secretary The WCIT Charity The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists Charity 39a Bartholomew Close London EC1A 7JN Email: charity@wcit.org.uk For help making a strong bid contact @Heaward Solutions Thank you, to @GRIN SW LLP who shared this opportunity in their daily grant bulletin. #Grant #Fundraising #Charity #Community #CIC

TIPS FOR WRITING EFFECTIVE GRANT APPLICATIONS Securing grants is a critical lifeline for many not-for-profits, but success rates are low and getting worse as demand continues to rise faster than supply. As a result, preparing bids can feel both daunting and potentially futile. Whether you're applying to a small trust or a major funder, crafting a compelling grant application is vital. Here are some key tips to help you stand out: 1. Understand the Funder’s Priorities Research is everything. Carefully review the funder’s guidelines, priorities, and past grantees. Tailor your application to align with their objectives, demonstrating how your project meets their goals. 2. Start with a Strong Case for Support Your application should clearly articulate: * The need: Why does your project matter? What problem are you solving? * The beneficiaries: Who will benefit, and how will their lives improve? * The solution: Why is your approach effective and sustainable? Use data, testimonials, and stories to build a compelling narrative. 3. Be Specific and Measurable Funders want to see impact. Set clear, measurable outcomes and explain how you’ll track progress. For example, instead of saying, “We aim to reduce homelessness,” say, “We aim to provide 50 individuals with emergency shelter and support 30 into permanent housing within 12 months.” 4. Show Value for Money Break down your budget and justify costs. Funders need to know their money will be used wisely. Include quotes or benchmarks if possible to show you've planned carefully. 5. Collaborate and Involve Beneficiaries Demonstrate partnership working where relevant—whether that’s with other organisations, local authorities, or your beneficiaries. Funders value inclusive, community-driven approaches. 6. Proofread and Seek Feedback Typos or unclear writing can undermine your credibility. Ask colleagues or trustees to review your application to ensure it’s concise, engaging, and free of jargon. 7. Follow Up If your application is unsuccessful, request feedback and use it to refine future submissions. Building relationships with funders can also enhance your chances for future opportunities. Effective grant writing is about storytelling, strategy, and precision. By focusing on the funder’s perspective and showcasing your impact, you can unlock vital funding for your cause. For professional bid writing, grant research, training or bid review services contact @HeawardSolutions. #NotForProfit #GrantWriting #FundraisingSuccess #Charity #Community #CIC

FREE HOW TO RISK ASSESS YOUR BUILDING WEBINAR Good friends of Heaward Solutions the Ethical Property Foundation are running an extremely useful event focused on how to risk assess your building. The event will be invaluable to any not-for-profit organisation that operates its own premises on Tuesday 10th December between 12-1 pm. The webinar will help attendees: • Understand what risk is, what it isn’t, and why it matters. • Work through a risk assessment calmly, understanding with confidence the different sections, common words and phrases used. • Understand the background to Health and Safety Legislation. • Recognise the importance of conducting and documenting risk assessments to fulfil Health and Safety responsibilities, and consider their impact on employees, visitors, and clients. • Learn how Health and Safety practices are interconnected with insurance policies. • Evaluate and prioritise a timetable for the most urgent changes, easiest improvements and affordable items to be purchased. Participants will also receive a resources kit with the opportunity to obtain free follow-up expert advice through our Ask a Property Expert Service. Find out more here: https://buff.ly/4i7z8ur #charity #community #property #riskassessment

THE CO-OP FOUNDATION YOUNG GAMECHANGERS FUND (ROUND 2) Grants of up to £20,000 are available to UK groups or organisations with an annual income of less than £100,000 that can deliver youth-led projects and activities with and for young people aged 10-25. Partnership bids are welcomed. Individuals may also apply. Round 2 of the Young Gamechangers Fund is part of a £4.5m partnership between the Co-op Foundation, Co-op and the #iwill Fund that aims to put young people aged between 10 and 25 in charge of change. The Young Gamechangers Fund is delivered by the Global Fund for Children and Restless Development, alongside the Co-op Foundation. In the previous round, £600,000 was available for allocation. For Round 2, a similar budget is thought to be available. The funder is looking for young activists, campaigners, disrupters, co-operators, and social entrepreneurs to lead youth-led social action across the UK. Two types of funding are available:  1. Funding for individuals. 2. Funding for groups or organisations with an annual income of less than £100,000. Grant awards can cover core costs (for example, salaries and overheads) or project costs. Support will be prioritised for young activists aged 10-25 who are committed to creating communities that are prosperous, safe, diverse, equitable and inclusive, healthy, and sustainable. In particular, grants will seek to support groups and communities that prioritise youth activism and shared power. Applications from the following are also likely to be prioritised: o Organisations that traditionally have not had access to funding. o Organisations that have previously experienced additional barriers to funding. o Organisations that are led by and for marginalised groups and communities. Successful applicants will also be offered peer support networks, training and mentoring to help their vision come to life. The application process and timetable is as follows: 1. Eligible applicants should complete the online eligibility quiz/checklist available on the Foundation’s website by midday (12 noon) on Wednesday 4th December 2024. 2. Applicants that successfully pass the eligibility stage should complete a full application by 5pm on Friday 6th December 2024. 3. The Grants Panel will meet to review applications on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 2025. Further information, guidance and the Eligibility Quiz/Checklist can be found on the Foundation’s website. Contact details for the Fund are: The Young Gamechangers Fund The Co-op Foundation 9th Floor 1 Angel Square Manchester M60 0AG Email: ygf@globalfundforchildren.org For help making a strong bid contact @Heaward Solutions Thank you, to @GRIN SW LLP who shared this opportunity in their daily grant bulletin. #Grant #Fundraising #Charity #Community #CIC

DOES YOUR CHARITY WANT A PLACE IN THE 2026 LONDON MARATHON? How do I get free or low-cost entry(s) into major events that we can use as a platform for fundraising is a question we get asked quite often. The answer can sometimes be complex however one of the big players in this space has recently provided a useful update... London Marathon Events (LME) has just launched its New Charity Bond Scheme, which will enable 800 new charities to become part of the TCS London Marathon from 2026 onwards. The Charity Bond Scheme is the result of a review that culminated in changes originally announced in 2021, which – to give existing charity partners time to plan ahead – would take effect from the 2026 TCS London Marathon. The average amount raised through a charity place in the TCS London Marathon is more than £2,600. The cost of a charity entry in the 2026 London Marathon will increase to £400 plus VAT from 2026, up from £370 plus VAT. Applications opened on Monday 11th November 2024 with a closing date for applications of 23:59 on Tuesday 26th November 2024. Charities will be notified of the ballot results in the week commencing Monday 2nd December 2024. The direct route to today's website article is available at this link https://buff.ly/4fpp1zg Thanks to our good friends at @GRIN SW LLP for this useful information. For help working out how to build fundraising from representative events into your charities strategy get in touch with @Heaward Solutions. #running #fundraising #charity #events

Anyone who follows Andrew our CEOs posts will hopefully be aware that he spends much of his my life working to support a huge range of good causes, be they set up as a Charity, Community Interest Company (CIC), or Community Group. This leads him to get involved in a huge range of areas including fundraising, marketing, strategy, monitoring and evaluation and governance. He has wanted for some time to take his involvement further and make a deeper commitment to the sector. Today we are pleased to say that after a lot of time and work, this has come about and he has become one of the four founding members of the board of trustees for Launch It Stoke-on-Trent (LISOT). This is a new charity registered on 8th October this year. Launch it Stoke-on-Trent joins a wider family of charities working within a social franchise model led by the long-standing Launch It Trust, which together runs a network of youth enterprise centres. Once our new centre in Longton opens this will bring the network up to seven sites. Each of these offers young people from disadvantaged areas the opportunity to explore starting their own business and provides the support needed to do so successfully over the first two years of their journey. We excited to see how over the next few years the Charity can make a real difference in the lives of talented young people from across the local area. Equally, we know that the Charity is starting an important journey that will make a tangible difference to the regeneration of a proud Potteries town. You can find out a bit more about Launch It Stoke-on-Trent work here: https://buff.ly/3ULn6wE The centre will 'go live' very soon and they are keen to engage with local people, businesses and organisations who would like to support this exciting journey, as volunteer mentors, strategic partners or funders. Please reach out if you would like to know more. #Enteprise #YoungPeople #Stoke-on-Trent #Volunteer #Charity

EFFECTIVE RELATIONAL FUNDRAISING In an ever-evolving fundraising landscape, building meaningful relationships is more than a fundraising strategy, it's essential for sustainable growth. Relational fundraising shifts the focus from transactional donations to long-term, authentic partnerships, creating deeper donor loyalty and increasing support over time. To get the best results with this approach not for profits should: 1) Prioritise Connection Over Conversion Success comes from treating supporters as people, not numbers. Invest in understanding their motivations, listen actively, and personalise communication. Even a quick phone call to share updates, not just appeals, can significantly deepen trust. 2) Engage with Purposeful Storytelling Stories bring your mission to life and connect donors to the real-world impact of their support. Share authentic, detailed accounts of the people and communities you serve, making donors feel like active participants in the journey. 3) Build Donor-Centric Systems From regular updates to tailored events, design experiences that make supporters feel valued. Consider how your communications, events, and acknowledgements serve to nurture relationships, not just fundraising. 4) Empower Ambassadors Donors and volunteers can be your best advocates. Give them ways to amplify their support by hosting peer fundraisers, sharing stories, or co-creating events. When people feel genuinely involved, they often bring others along. 5) Be Transparent and Accountable Donors today expect transparency. Regularly share the impact of their contributions, acknowledge challenges, and celebrate milestones together. This openness strengthens trust, making donors feel integral to your success. Relational fundraising is about nurturing genuine, enduring partnerships. By treating donors as allies and champions, charities can create a loyal network that stands with them through thick and thin. Ultimately, these strong relationships are the foundation of impactful, sustainable growth. For professional help with your fundraising contact @HeawardSolutions #NotForProfit # Community #Charity #CIC #Fundraising