Fundraising
We support staff, volunteers and trustees on a range of funding and fundraising issues. We help groups to:
- find sources of funding;
- improve their fundraising skills and knowledge; and
- think more strategically about funding over the longer-term to create a more sustainable funding base for their activities.
Funding sources
How we can help you find sources of funding
- Funding news – get the latest news on funding opportunities via our regular fundraising calendar or our monthly funding ebulletins
- Meet funders face-to-face – learn what funders are really looking for through our ‘Meet the Funders’ events
- Make the links – on our funding resources page you’ll find lots of useful links to funders’ websites
- Improving your funding searches – we help groups wanting to use search engines such as ‘Grantfinder’ and ‘Funder Finder Online’ to find funders for specific projects.
Fundraising skills
How we can help you improve your fundraising skills and knowledge
- Training in different aspects of fundraising – current workshops and courses include Fundraising Ideas and Writing Better Fundraising Applications
- Funding “Surgeries” (outreach advice sessions for small groups) – we offer tailored, one-to-one advice and support whether you want to turn ideas into fundable projects, identify potential funders for projects you have in mind, or need help with a funding application form
- Practical fundraising resources – we have a range of useful publications in our VAC library as well as downloadable advice sheets and briefings here on our fundraising pages
Consultancy
We offer a one-to-one consultancy service for organisations where we can work on a specific area such as developing fundraising strategies, business planning, or writing funding applications. The initial consultation is free to assess your needs and prepare a proposal. Thereafter an hourly rate of £45 will be charged for VAC members from voluntary and community organisations, and from £65 p/h for non-members. For statutory bodies and Housing Associations, other fees will apply. Contact: Somanah Achadoo, 020 7284 6556, sachadoo@vac.org.uk
Planning for sustainability
How we can help you plan and think strategically about funding
- Training and one-to-one advice on ‘Developing Fundraising Strategies’ and preparing fundraising plans
- Sustainable funding approaches – advice and training on issues such as how to diversify your funding base; dealing with the recession; trading options; social enterprise development; and other relevant topics.
‘I feel more confident now with strategic planning as a result of the course.’
‘The Meet the Funders event helped me find out specifically what the Trust was looking for in an application – which helped us secure both capital and revenue funding.’
‘The fundraising officer is extremely helpful, very proactive, and we have received a lot of support that has helped us keep things going over the years.’
Contact:
Sarah Oyedele, Fundraising Officer
Tel: 020 7284 6559 (Typetalk: 18001-020 7284 6559)
Email: soyedele@vac.org.uk