Fundraising for Small Community Groups

March 2011Delivered by: Caroline Egan

Training and Development Manager Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups

Identify Project Outputs and Outcomes• Outputs: What and how much gets produced or delivered (usually

expressed in quantitative measures)

• Outcomes: The difference made. What are the short and long term benefits of the activity?

Principle Sources of Funds

• Small-scale Grants• Corporate Donations• Fundraising Events• Membership fees/contributions• Merchandising• Online Donations• Loyalty Cards

Guiding Principles for Fundraising

The Charities Act 2009 includes:• All types of public fundraising to require permits• New Charity Regulator to be appointed• Annual charity reporting to include fundraising

• The practices and procedures used by charities for fundraising will be regulated by agreed Codes of Practice to be developed with the charities sector

• Available at: http://www.ictr.ie/files/R2.%20Guiding%20Principles%20of%20Fundraising%20-%20Feb%202008.pdf

Guiding Principles• Core principles

• Commitment to Donors – Donors Charter

• The Conduct of Fundraisers

• Responsibilities of Board/Trustees/Senior Management

• Honest Communication

• Financial Accountability

• Monitoring and Compliance

Good Practice Factsheets • Handling Cash and Postal donations

• Garda Permits

• Insurance

• Raffles and Lotteries

• Data Protection

• Guidelines on pre-signed Mass Cards

Will be available from www.ictr.ie at the end of the month

Corporate Fundraising support could be through• Making a donation to a specific project• Giving goods, services or volunteer time• By involving staff to raise matching funds• By promoting workplace contribution schemes• By sponsoring events• By sponsoring print materials or websites• By developing marketing partnerships• By adopting you as their cause/charity for year

Company motivations

• Personal connections with charity• To create goodwill• To enhance employee relations• To promote brand and increase sales• To be good neighbours in the community• To adhere to company policy

What charity/group has to offer• A topical/powerful/emotive/relevant cause• Specific projects• A network of motivated volunteers• Respectability, heritage, well liked• Strong local/national profile• Communications: newsletter, website• Good PR opportunities

Research Skills for Sourcing Funds

• What information do you need?- Companies that support community groups- The key contacts in these companies- The grants available (national/local)- Permits required for fundraising- Looking at what competing groups are

doing

Where can you get information• Talk to company staff and other groups• Visit company websites• Read local newspapers/ listen to radio• Add group to grant giver databases• Regularly check out websites:

- www.activelink.ie- www.fundingpoint.ie

Developing a Strong Case for Support• Answer three questions:

- Why do we need the money?- Why do we need it now?- Why can we be trusted to spend it?

Decide which sources of funds to target• Which sources match your project profile and

needs• What capabilities do you have to manage the

funds• Are you required to provide matching funds• Are you reimbursed after costs are incurred

Decide methods to acquire funds

• Who will take responsibility for developing funding proposal and grant applications?

• Remember: Asking face to face is better than telephoning, which is better than a personal letter, which is better than an e-mail

Make a successful application

• Sufficient information• Well presented• In the form indicated by funder• Submitted on time• With all relevant documents attached• With correct contact details

Include an Expenditure Budget• Remember to include:

- All materials & equipment (including print materials)- Non volunteer sources labour costs- Professional fees (advertising)- PR event costs- Office (rent, stationery, telephone, postage,

light, heat)- Training and travel- Non recoverable VAT

Funding – Keep adequate records

• Bank accounts – manage your cash flow• Produce accounts when registered as company

limited by guarantee• Manage invoices – keep copies where needed to

recoup monies spent. Ensure book keeper has all invoices and documentation for monies spent. Remember petty cash, cheque payments