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Researching possible donors and funders
The second step after making a plan, is putting that plan into action. Sadly, sustainable fundraising isn’t a ‘build it and they will come’ situation, it is a challenging and ever-present process that requires time and toil. But we do have some hints to make it easier and more effective.
How to find funding?
Finding funding or potential donors starts by identifying the revenue streams available to you. The likelihood of a perfect investor just landing in your lap is slim, and even if they did it’s important to identify a diverse range of funding sources, so not to leave yourself exposed should the unexpected occur.
Consider a mix of the following:
Statutory sources – local authority or national government grants and contracts
Grant making bodies – including trusts and foundations; lottery funding and community funds
Corporates – including sponsorship, mentoring or pro-bono work and payroll giving
Community and individuals – including regular giving, volunteering, running fundraising events for you, legacies, membership and crowdfunding
Earned income – including e-bay stores and charity shops, running cafes, selling merchandise or hiring premises
Events – including sporting challenges, digital events, galas, coffee mornings and concerts.
Where to look – fundraising websites
| Site | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Charities Excellence framework | Contains several online heath-check questionnaires for your charity to review fundraising, governance and impact. You must register on the site for access. | Free |
| Funds Online | Contains four lists of funding sources including grant making charities, statutory sources and contributions from companies. Run by the Directory of Social Change, who provide further resources and training on their website. | Subscription |
| GrantNav | General directory for charitable funding. | Free |
| Grants Online | Contains regional funding information, as well as funds organised by cause. | Free |
| Local community foundations | 46 local community foundations across the UK provide support to local grassroots charities and groups. Check the UK Community Foundation website to see local support in your area. | Free |
| Lottery good causes | Provides information on the various lottery fund programmes available. | Free |
| The List | A platform that tracks changes to grant-making behaviour of Trust and Foundations in the UK | Free |
| The Heritage Funding Directory | Funding for the heritage sector. | Free |
Some of these websites charge subscription fees, so consider if you are part of any umbrella organisations that already has access, so you do not need to pay. It is also worth researching the annual accounts and reports of other charities doing similar work to you, to see which funders have supported them. Annual reports are in the public domain and are available via the Charity Commission website.
What to look for – researching charity grants and funding
| Name | Name of potential funder or donor |
|---|---|
| Type | The type of potential funder that you want to approach. These include trusts, foundations, corporate funders, statutory bodies and philanthropic individuals who may be able to support your activities. |
| Area of interest | The potential funder’s areas of interest, the fit with your organisation and the projects/activities which need funding. For example, the funder may be interested in the protection of the environment and natural heritage; promoting the arts or helping marginalised sectors of society. |
| Past giving | Other charities, projects or organisations that a funder has supported in the past, and what kind of grants they have awarded. The funder may have a particular track record in supporting grass root community groups or the restoration of museums and heritage buildings. Understanding what a funder likes, or has a tendency to support, will help you to work out if they are a good match for your organisation. Knowing about relevant past grants or gifts, including the amount, will also help you gain a sense of what level of gift to request. |
| Key people | Try to find a list of trustees, key executives or administrative staff (such as a grants manager) of a given trust, foundation or funder. These should be listed in their annual reports or provided on the given funder’s Charities Commission website listing. Try to map a route to any of these through your networks to effect an introduction or letter of endorsement. |
| Procedure | Any key elements in the funder’s application process including deadlines and any financial information or supporting materials that they require. Some may wish you to complete a paper application form (rather than online) while others have an online quiz to assess your suitability for their grants. Some funders have several deadlines per year so think about which deadline ties in best with your charity’s governance process. |
| Important to note | Any special considerations relating to your approach to this funder or donor for a grant or gift. For example, some funders exclude capital projects or ongoing costs. |
| Target amount | The target amount that you will be seeking from this donor, taking their areas of interest and track record into consideration. |
Top tip: It can be helpful to colour code each of the possible funders/donors to show their potential to give a gift or grant to your charity. This can be according to their likelihood to give or the possible size of their financial contribution. Colour coding can help you to prioritise your approaches and applications. For example: GREEN – most likely to give to your charity; AMBER – may give to your charity; RED – unlikely to give to your charity.
We have provided a downloadable empty template for you to capture this information during your research.
Done your research?
You’ve found your potential prospects, now you need to ask for funding.
Move to step 3
Successful grant applications and building a strong case for support
Move to Step 3
Successful grant applications and building a strong case for support
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