I got a great question from Ask Me Anything in the last newsletter:
"What are your top three tips for fundraising if you aren't a charity?"
TLDR: research who funds groups with your structure by looking at their accounts and use the CIC Funder Lists in the Grant Writing Toolkit Resource Library.
Most funders want a group with a separate bank and at least three unrelated commitee members so that it's harder for someone to run off with the money. In the UK "not-a-charity" can mean individual, constituted group, Community Interest Company - going from smallest to biggest pools of funders.
Funders aren't trying to make your life hard, honest. They need to know without ever meeting you that you are a safe pair of hands. Legal structure is the easiest way to do that.
If you are an individual I suggest finding a CIC or charity partner who would manage the grant for you and offer to draft the bid.
If you are a constituted group, CIC or other entity here are my top three tips for finding funding.
1. Read the accounts and hunt for funder logos on the websites of local groups with the same legal structure as you. I describe this in detail in the Finding Funders module of The Grant Writing Toolkit.
2. Check out local public sector funds as these are likely to be open to a wide range of groups. In the UK this includes supermarket funds, Councils, National Lottery. There are several more listed on the CIC Funder Lists in the Resource Library (one Scottish, one English so far, shout out if you want a Welsh one)
3. Consider forming a CIC as a good midway point, it opens up more funding but doesnt require a separate Board. Check out my CIC Constitution Talkthrough in the Resource Library.
If you have three people able to be volunteer directors then forming a charity is also an option! Sneaky fourth tip - check out Should We Form A Charity? in the Free Lesson Library to see if a charity or a CIC would suit better.
Fifth tip (like the fifth book in the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy trilogy) is to look at crowdfunding. There's a recording of my Consider Crowdfunding zoom webinar in the Resource Library.
Scroll down for info on what funds I'm working on this week, what new resources are in the Library. If you have a question you would like answered you can Ask Me Anything by emailing support@trufflepig.org.uk with Ask Me in the subject line. This one is also open to free and paying subscribers. Do you want a fund recommendation? Do you want to know how to answer a thorny question on a form? Ask away!
Happy fundraising,
Phyllis, Chief Pig 🐖
Useful? Forward to your friends and encourage them to sign up.
WHAT I'M WORKING ON: FUND SUGGESTIONS
Glasgow Council Community Fund is open so it's all about this form and guidelines this week. Funding is minimum £20k a year for 3 years for constituted groups, CICs and charities for projects that address poverty and inequalities. You can apply for salaries and a proportion of running costs as well as all delivery costs. 7th April deadline. https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/glasgowcommunitiesfund
Asda Foundation will launch a new fund for up to £1000 for youth mental health/wellbeing projects across the UK on 27th Feb, will fund CICs and community groups.
Imperial Polythene Community Fund - will support CICs. £1000 grants for UK environmental, creative or community projects - it's a Slough company so proximity to SLough probably a bonus. https://www.imperialpolythene.com/files/Imperial_Community_Fund_Doc.pdf
Trusthouse - a great funder for work in rural and urban deprived areas, will fund salaries and running costs. I've had £5-7.5k from them on a regular basis. Requires a case study and prefers match funding to be in place. Rolling deadlines https://www.trusthousecharitablefoundation.org.uk/our-grants/small-grants
Glasgow City Council Area Partnerships have their Spring meeting dates set, so you can apply for delivery costs (no salaries) for activities benefitting specific communities. Various Feb/Mar/April deadlines online at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/media/15129/Area-Partnership-Meeting-Dates-Application-Deadlines-and-Priorities-2025/pdf/2025_Meeting_dates__Priorities___Deadlines.pdf?m=1730893310523. If you aren't in Glasgow then check your local Council's website - they usually have some small pots and will fund CICs and constituted groups as well as charities.
RESOURCE LIBRARY
I'm always adding new resources to the Resource Library - since the last newsletter I've added:
- editable activity list template from Is It Fundable? Collect Your List module
- successful William Syson (£4000 Scottish arts orgs, will fund CICs) core funding bid
- successful Peoples Postcode Trust (up to £20,000 core costs, UK-wide) core funding bid
Paying subscribers can request new items for the library - if you have a bid type, template or how-to adding please email support@trufflepig.org.uk with the request and I'll let you know if it gets made.
