Around this time last year, Steph and I began to talk about the possibility of recruiting another member of staff. We were very busy but were caught in a catch 22 where the idea of bringing in a new member of the team, inducting them and teaching them the job felt like too much (more) hard work! We were well aware that charities often struggle to recruit great fundraisers and so we felt as though our chances of doing so might be slim.

We work with numerous youth charities so are well aware of the problems young people face in finding employment and with university fees so high, many people are excluded from the opportunity to learn and develop once they leave school. The more we talked about the idea of an Apprentice, the more excited we got.

After some initial research we discovered that Rathbone offered a Fundraising Apprenticeship and once we’d seen the quality of the course there was no going back! The course content looked excellent and in a career where until recently there were very few people with recognised accreditations this seemed the perfect opportunity for us to help train and support the highest quality fundraiser.

The recruitment process was simple but the interviews were tough, I had forgotten how it feels to have to turn people down, especially when they are so keen and full of enthusiasm. The role of a fundraiser is demanding and we had to make sure we found someone who could cope with a heavy, varied workload but who could also show great understanding an empathy towards the charities we work with.

I am happy to say that we’ve found that person! Jess started working with us on the […]

Crowdfunding is an increasingly popular way to raise funds for specific projects. An excellent example of this is The Bicycle Academy, which raised £40,000 in six days. It’s worth noting though that not all Crowdfunding projects achieve their goals and not all projects are suitable for Crowdfunding so make sure that the project you chose is easy to explain and understand.

Bear in mind these 10 key points:

1. Crowdfunding only works if you can make a good connection with donors so be clear and specific – you may decide to make a short video to pitch your idea or a short but compelling narrative. This is your chance to get people interested!
2. Be realistic – don’t set your targets so high that they put people off
3. Be transparent – what is the money raised going to do? Include a budget
4. Plan your social media campaign – crowdfunding only works if you make the most of your online networks. Make sure that as many people as possible hear about your campaign, use Twitter, Facebook, your website, newsletter
5. What rewards will you offer in return for funding? (remember that this needs to cover the cost of using the platform and of honouring any rewards)
6. Pick the right platform – look at the costs and the audience –  this website is helpful www.crowdingin.com
7. Submit your pitch –Make sure you have checked and double checked for any errors. It’s worth asking someone who knows nothing about your work for their feedback. All pitches are checked before going live so expect a delay
8. Get others to help – word of mouth is what it’s all about. Approach your regular supporters first – crowd funding has a snowball effect – people are more likely to give if they see […]
   

Has your search for a Trust and Grants fundraiser been unsuccessful? It would seem you are not alone….

Increasingly we are approached by charities who have recently attempted to recruit a Trust and Grants fundraiser but who have found their search to be fruitless, they come to us looking for short-medium term support to help them achieve their funding requirements. They tell us they were overwhelmed with the number of applications but received very few of the quality they were looking for. Upon interview things seem to get worse. One of our Birmingham based clients was looking for a part time Trust and Grants fundraiser and received over 60 applications, only 4 of whom had any relevant experience!

Over the years we have worked with some fantastic fundraisers so why is there such a dearth of good applicants? We initially thought the problem was regional as we had heard from charities in Nottingham, Leicester and Derby who told us of their difficulties with recruitment but we spoke with a number of Fundraising Directors working for London based National charities who told us the same – they are struggling to find good Trust and Grants fundraisers. We’ve pondered long and hard about why this might be and come up with a number of reasons:

• Fundraising is not viewed as a profession – very often when we tell people we are fundraisers they think we knock doors or rattle tins for a living.  Because of this perception and a lack of formal training for those interested in the field, there aren’t many professionally trained fundraisers in the market and the demand for such employees greatly outstrips the supply.
• While there is a great need for skilled staff in non-profits, […]
  

Yesterday the BBC aired a Panorama documentary revealing  that Comic Relief invested £630,000 in shares in BAE Systems, a leading weapons manufacturer, despite the charity’s commitment to help ‘people affected by conflict’. The charity has also given money to help the fight against tuberculosis but had £3million of its money wrapped up in tobacco companies, despite smoking being a major contributory factor in many TB cases. And although it aims to reduce alcohol misuse and its spin-off effects, it also had £300,000 invested in the drinks industry in 2009.

It’s not unusual for a charity to try and generate more funding for it’s activities though investment. In fact, it’s common practice. The potential for a return on investment shouldn’t be the sole factor determining where money is invested, especially when donors (quite rightly) assume a level of ethical integrity on the part of the trustees. It’s important also to remember that there is a distinction between those working for charities and those who run them. We can’t help but feel that Comic Relief are being made an example of but there are others also operating in the same way. What this highlights is the need for an Ethical Investment Policy in every charity that fits comfortably with their charitable objectives. The comments below this Guardian article are worth a read, and may signal a change in donors giving directly to local charities rather than to larger funders who distribute money on their behalf.

The highlight of this week was a visit to Standon Hall in Staffordshire to see the team at Make Some Noise (MSN) in action.

MSN deliver music making sessions for young people across Staffordshire.  Since 2001 over 15,000 children & young people have accessed their music opportunities. I have worked with them for just over a year so while I know a lot about what they do, I had never seen them in action!

The event was a fun day for Young Carers from the South Staffordshire Carers Association and was attended by over 80 children and young people.

MSN attended the event with a small group of their young volunteers who co-lead the workshops which allowed young people to have a go on guitars, drums, i-Pads, Keyboards and vocals. In each 20 minute session the groups put together a song which played out across the grounds and drew in groups of others keen to have a go!

What really surprised me about the session was how quickly children and young people warmed to the task, and even the shyest were able to join in and feel part of the group. The effects of this on their confidence was evident almost instantly. In the act of getting lost in the music the young carers were able to relax, have fun and forget their worries. They quickly came together as a team and worked out roles and supported each other. I was very aware of how amplified this effect could be over a longer period of time and with regular engagement with MSN. The young volunteers are people who have already been involved with MSN and who want to help others, often they are on the pathway to achieving […]