Fundraising
Since going freelance in 2011, I have supported charitable projects to secure £20 million through grant funding.
Fundraising is at the heart of what I do because this is what makes a project possible – with successful fundraising your great idea can become a reality.
The projects I have made possible through fundraising range from few £100 to several £million and include both existing projects needing funding to sustain activity and new project ideas. Most of my work involves securing grants from funders including National Lottery, Local Authorities and Charitable Trusts and Foundations. I have supported both capital and revenue projects. I can help you to identify potential funding sources, establish your case for support and prepare well thought through and convincing funding applications.
Around 75% of the grant applications I support are to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. As well as completing the application form, I can work with you to prepare:
- Activity Plans
- Audience Development Plans
- Communication Plans
- Management Plans
- Business Plans
- Budgets and Cashflows
- Briefs and Job Descriptions
- Full cost recovery calculations
I can also help you with supporting documents such as appropriate policies and systems to ensure a project runs smoothly.
Award-winning projects.
Since achieving funding, many of the projects I have supported have gone on to gain recognition in local, regional and national awards.
St Cuthbert's Church, Norham
This church on the banks of the River Tweed has a rich and fascinating history. However, consultation with visitors and local residents was consistently saying the same thing ... the church was too cold, and often dark, and this was becoming a barrier to being able to host events or share their heritage stories.
Together we developed a Case for Support which the Parochial Church Council was able to use to apply to several local charitable trusts and foundations. At the same time, I supported them to apply to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Multiple bids have now been secured meaning that the church will be able to install a new heating and lighting scheme as well as developing a heritage interpretation plan and events programme to engage more people.
Trust for Developing Communities
[I wanted] to let you know that we were successful in our Heritage Lottery bid - following a rethink and rewrite in response to your immense helpfulness! You were fantastic - forensic, enthusiastic and supportive. Thank you so much - on behalf of all our community groups - who are so delighted that we have managed to bring £250k funding into their community - enabling an platform for all their energy, ideas and enthusiasm.
