How external input could take your fundraising strategy to the next level

Is your charity looking to change the way that they fundraise?

Are you diversifying your income sources or adding a new funding stream to your current fundraising mix?

Do you have an ambitious operational strategy to achieve over the next few years?

If so, you may benefit from support to write and implement a fundraising strategy.

What would be involved?

In order to develop a fundraising strategy to meet your charity’s needs, a consultant would undertake a full review that may include:

Internal:

• A review of key strategic documents and consultation with key staff and/or trustees to understand the current and planned areas of work.
• A review of fundraising activity through assessing planning and reporting documents and a consultation with key staff and/or trustees to understand the strengths and weaknesses of any fundraising undertaken to date.
• A review of relationships with existing/past supporters and prospects that have not yet been engaged.

External:

• A peer review to look at the annual reports and websites of similar organisations to identify their fundraising methods, levels of income secured and to help identify potential funders.
• Prospect research to assess the capacity and propensity to give of funders supporting peer organisations and to identify additional prospects with a relevant focus.

What could be achieved?

Following the internal and external review, you would receive a fundraising strategy paper that would include:

• An outline of voluntary income streams available to your charity and the conditions needed to be attractive to those income sources.
• A set of clear and actionable recommendations for a fundraising programme, including resource requirements.
•  A prospect sheet with details on potential supporters, including recommended approach, size of request and details regarding their giving history and preferences.

Fundraising strategy in action

BlindAid is London’s oldest charity supporting people with sight loss. Since 1834, they have offered a home visiting service to people with sight loss across the twelve inner London boroughs. They have historically been funded through investment income from an endowment but took the bold decision to increase their service delivery to meet growing demand. This meant spending their reserves to increase services and investing in fundraising to develop a sustainable growth strategy.

We have worked closely with BlindAid to develop a five year fundraising strategy, with operational plans for the first three years. Following the strategy work, we are supporting BlindAid to develop fundraising programmes across trusts and grants, corporate partnerships and individual giving.

"BlindAid appointed KEDA Consulting in 2017 to provide expert guidance and practical support for BlindAid in setting up our fundraising capability. We have found Alex and his team to be consummate professionals. We have found they listened carefully to our brief to gain a thorough understanding of our needs; they are creative and deliver a quality service. Importantly they are responsive and deliver to timelines. I recommend KEDA Consulting unreservedly."

Sue O’Hara, Chief Executive Officer, BlindAid

If you are still wondering whether a Fundraising Consultant may add value to your charity, or if you have any questions – there is no harm in asking! Get in touch [email protected] or visit www.kedaconsulting.co.uk