Funding and fundraising
About National Lottery funding
The National Lottery is an important source of funding for non-profit organisations. It works in partnership with distributors to award grants for good causes in the arts, heritage, health, education, environment, community and charity sectors.
Do you qualify?
The first question you need to ask is what category, if any, your organisation qualifies for. Answering this question will determine which of the grant distributing bodies you should apply to.
Investing in people
New rules mean that lottery funds are now being invested in people, as well as in building projects. For example, athletes, not just training facilities, are now eligible. Arts councils can award grants that increase access to, and participation in, the arts – particularly for young people.
If you want to find out more information, or if you want to apply for a grant, please visit The National Lottery Good Causes Portal.
Top ten tips for fundraising
Non-profit organisations usually need to approach individuals and organisations for donations. Here are a few tips to help you fundraise successfully:
- Know your donors
Find out who the top donors are in your area of fundraising and get to know them. Find out what motivates them, how much they give, how often, why they give and to whom. Keep them properly updated about what their money is achieving.
- Start relationships
Fundraising can be more than just a mailshot in the post. Fundraising dinners and events, for example, are great fun, and an opportunity for potential donors to meet each other. Some large companies, including Lloyds TSB, have a Matched Giving scheme, where money raised by employees is matched pound for pound.
- Segment your donors
Adopt a system of segmenting donors by category – for example, by how much they give and to what type of organisations – and tailor fundraising to suit. Remember, look after your donors.
- Use your whole organisation
Never think, "It’s not my job to fundraise". Yes, it is – it's everyone's, because without the money there is no organisation.
- Sell your proposition
Sell the problem, not the solution. People are more interested in what their money contributes to, rather than how a solution is achieved.
- Plan for future income
Are your funds invested for future income? Where does your money come from? Look for ways to use your organisation's skills to provide a sustainable income.
- Don't rely on grants forever
If you are embarking on a long-term project, it's a good idea to plan on becoming self-reliant.
- Don't assume worthiness
Remember that no one has to give you money and you have no automatic right to get any. So monitor your donors and their interest levels.
- Don't focus on costs
Fundraising is not about what things cost, it’s about selling a compelling argument to change a problem into a solution. Nevertheless, you should always demonstrate that you are using funds effectively.
- Be persistent
There is no replacement for hard work and dogged persistence. Set targets and keep going until you reach them. Remember to tell everybody, donors and members, how well you are doing.
