Income Generation and Fundraising

• Caroline Gilbert, Children’s University

• Josh Fleet, David Berney and Chloe Portman

from Wishgenie

Graduations

GrantsOnline/

Community

Asking for Money…

CU

Families

Schools

HE/FE

Other Agencies

Learning Destinations

Businesses

The Case for Support

• At the heart of the community• Open to all but also successfully target specific groups• Access to a large family market/association HE• Investing in the future • Long-term positive associations• We can and do help others to realise their goals • Powerful imagery/PR potential/Branding opportunities• Evidence of Impact - independently evaluated • Scale of our operations: locally, nationally and globally

How to Ask for Money

• Make sure you actually ask! • Be clear what you the want money for• Be ambitious but don’t promise what you can’t

deliver• Be realistic about your costs • Remember you are not begging • Be passionate/demonstrate your personal belief• Know your organisation and your finances • Be persistent and don’t get disheartened

Graduations

• Sponsorship• Merchandise • Showcase your CU to

potential sponsors and funders

• Media coverage• Donations • Appeal to guests for support:

both in-kind and cash

Sponsorship

• Target Audience• Core Values and History• Size of Organisation• Return on Investment• What have they Previously

Supported?• Who Should I Contact?

Applying for Grants

Create a one page overview of funding opportunity:• Project description• Need• Beneficiaries• Geography• Impact• Evaluation• Timescale• Cost including any

matchfunding

Who to Apply to?• www.fundingcentral.org.uk• http://ukcommunityfoundations.org• Locally managed trust funds• Local authority grants• Awards for All (Big Lottery)• Supermarkets e.g. Tesco• Niche funders e.g. the Arts Council• Banks e.g. Lloyds and Deutsche Bank• Masons, rotary and other local members clubs• Large national grantmakers who mange smaller grants programmes

for specific geographic areas – email caroline.gilbert@childrensuniversity.co.uk

Things to Consider• Check Criteria: organisational status, revenue or capital, core

or project costs, age criteria etc• Evidence of strong delivery track record, impact and financial

sustainability• If a new CU, utilise national documentation and your

organisation’s track record with target group/other projects• Make contact if possible; send summary and draft bids• Matchfunding: use in-kind as well as cash contributions• Collaboration: partners and other CUs• It takes time to get a decision• Growing trend for trusts not to accept unsolicited applications

Increase Your Chances of Success• Research, research, research• Create a one page overview• Use your Patrons , Chancellors and Trustees• In-kind contributions as well as hard cash• Increase your profile/fully exploit graduation potential• Establish a group of volunteers to drive fundraising efforts • Numbers: beneficiaries, schools, website hits etc• Evidence claims e.g. paper cuttings, evaluation summaries• Be clear and concise - watch terminology• Ask for feedback (good or bad)• Remember a picture is worth a thousand words • Work with partners/piggy back onto others’ events • Increase your circle of contacts e.g. business breakfasts

Keep Hold of Them!

It’s easier to retain and build existing relationships than find new supporters:

• Say Thank You• Publicly Acknowledge Support • Keep Supporters Updated• Adhere to Reporting Requirements• Remember People Talk!• Ask again

Other Opportunities to Explore

• Explore Wider Corporate Sponsorship

• Charge Learning Destinations• Events including a National

CU Fundraising Day• Individual Giving

Programmes – ‘Friends of Shrigley’

Help, Information and Support

• Templates and guides on the members area of the website

• www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk

• www.ncvo.org.uk

• Caroline Gilbert 0161 907 5467 caroline.gilbert@childrensuniversity.co.uk