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Advice and information on fundraising

Funding is often a source of anxiety for people working with community food initiatives. We have no magic wand to wave to support projects to achieve secure funding sources, but the following information and advice may help.

This page will endeavour to point you in the direction of some basic advice on how to go about raising funds for your project. This is not a comprehensive listing.

Fundraising advice

Every project should be thinking about how it will continue to survive financially. Having a strategy will help your project plan clarify what you need the money for and how to go about getting it. Here are some links to some useful guides:

Finding funding step by step

SCVO’s guide to raising funds, including how to raise money by trading and sources of general advice and information.

https://scvo.org.uk/support/running-your-organisation/funding/step-by-step-guide

NCVO KnowHow

Contains a section on funding and income, as well as other sources of information for non-profit organisations.

https://knowhownonprofit.org/funding

Where to find out about sources of funding

Whatever you are fundraising for, you will need to apply to the appropriate funding bodies.

CFHS Links

We have a list of funding sources compiled with community food initiatives in mind.

Funding Scotland

Free online search engine where you can look for funding for your charity, community group or social enterprise. Developed by SCVO.

https://www.fundingscotland.com

Scottish Government

Third Sector Funding information:

https://www.gov.scot/policies/third-sector/third-sector-funding/

There are lots of other sites on the web that will direct you to sources of funding. You will need to pay to use most of these sites, although some offer free trials for up to two weeks.

There are also a number of directories of funding sources. You can sometimes find copies of these in your local (or central) library. Many councils for voluntary organisations also have copies you can ask to use.

Raising your own funds

With everyone talking about applying to the National Lottery and various trust funds, it is sometime easy to forget there are other ways of raising funds. From jumble sales to payroll giving, to corporate sponsorship or even selling your services, the big advantage of raising your own funds by these kinds of activity is that no one else can tell you how to spend it – these are called unrestricted funds.

Membership

Members’ subscriptions can contribute significantly to the financial health of your organisation. It is probably worth considering carefully if the people you work with can afford a membership fee and if so, how much. Will a fee mean that some people don’t take part? Alternatively a fee may help people feel that they belong and have a sense of ownership of the organisation.

If you do start a membership scheme, make it clear why you are starting it and remember to tell people what they get by becoming a member. Running a membership scheme can be a lot of work, think about how much your organisation wants to put into it and if the work will more than pay for itself.

Sponsorship

Many local companies or individuals will be interested in sponsoring local organisations in exchange for a bit of local publicity. They might offer goods and services rather than money, but this will be helpful if you can use what they are offering.

Payroll giving

Employers can help their employees give regularly to charities by setting up a payroll giving system. Someone who works for an employer with payroll giving can decide to donate to your charity through the scheme. This service does not cost your charity any money.

https://payrollgiving.co.uk

Raising money through your activities

If you are thinking of raising funds through trading activities, read our guide to business and social enterprise, Minding Their Own Business and its companion Minding Their Own Business Too.

The Advice and Resources section on this website also has useful information: