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Funding core costs: how to keep the lights on 💡 For small charities, covering core costs like salaries, equipment, office rental, heating and electricity can be a constant battle. Annoyingly, many funders list core costs as one of their exclusions, preferring only to fund direct project activities - even though nothing would get done without your staff and databases! So how do you do it? Here are a few ideas. ❄️ Winter-proof your budget If you don’t already take this approach, why not consider splitting some of your core costs across the projects you deliver, for example adding 10-20% to cover overheads. Not all funders may be open to this approach but it is a good option to test out. 📝 Grants Although many funders don’t like funding core costs such as heating and bills, there are some that do. Investing some time in finding out which these are and submitting applications is a worthwhile long-term strategy. 📞 Keep in touch with your current funders At the time of the first round of Cost of Living support from the government to individuals, some funders (such as Comic Relief Groundwork) took the initiative to automatically top up their grants in recognition of inflation. If you have good relationships with your funders there might be scope to start a discussion about a top-up that reflects your current costs. 💷 Cost of Living funding During the winter, many funders, like local councils and the National Lottery, open additional pots of funding specifically for warm space activities and you can often include core costs in these bids. Getting to know your local Community Foundation is another great way of finding core costs and cost of living funding in your area. What would you add? Ps. For 5 more ideas, check out the Better Story blog.

Exciting news! The Npower Business Solutions Foundation offers grants of up to £100,000 (up to £19,999 for organisations with income less than £50,000 in their last set of accounts and for organisations above this, grants from £20,000 - £100,000). These grants can significantly impact charities, CICs, schools, colleges and universities and inspire you to reach new heights in your projects. Eligibility criteria: - Must be one of the organisations above and registered with the correct governing institution. - Be within 50 miles of offices in Solihull (B91 3ES) and Leeds (LS15 8ZA) or both of Npower. Or, if it is a national organisation, you should have operations within these areas - Your organisation must have been operational for two years and be in the designated catchment area. You must also provide accounts to confirm your turnover/income. Here is a link to their website, where you can find more info and apply: https://lnkd.in/eWU3pq2B Do you need help to write a compelling bid that secures funding? Don't worry; Flatley's Consultancy can help! 📝 We're here to provide the support and expertise you need to craft a winning proposal. With expertise in bid writing and capacity building, I can help your organisation craft a winning proposal. #NpowerBusinessSolutionsFoundation #grantfunding #bidwriting #charitysupport #capacitybuilding #fundraising #nonprofit #socialimpact

Business News Wales post today includes news of the next round of funding to help purchase and renovate #CommunityAssets which is to be welcomed. From the adviser perspective I would note that often in the #BusinessCase planning and the #Grantapplication #VAT implications and the general complexity of the rules on building works, capital goods scheme rules, partial exemption and non-business use is still getting missed. I appreciate that taking advice comes with a cost but we all want these projects to succeed and going into these projects as VAT aware as possible will add value and reduce the risk of voluntary groups suffering sleepless nights. Xeinadin Centurion VAT Xeinadin #IndirectTax Team always open to chatting issues through #Charities #NotForProfit #CommunityAssetTransfer https://lnkd.in/eDkjyxW9

Vital reading report from Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales - any charity/third sector provider of services on behalf of Local Authorities, understanding the implications of a Section 114 Notice. TLDR summary... • Increased demand for services amid reduced funding • Cuts to non-statutory services affecting those most in need • Growing pressure on charities to fill gaps in service provision I believe we need to advocate for systemic changes in how local government is funded, working together to maximise our impact rather than as competitors all after the same pie, which is ever decreasing. And sadly I think there will be potential increases in service demand in social care charities. Trustees may also need to review risk registers to identify LAs they are working with at risk of a Section 114 Notice #CharitySector #LocalGovernment #CommunitySupport #Funding"

Every now and again a report comes along that give sustenance and hope. This is that report folks. This new report from Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales and NAVCA on the decline in government funding and financial difficulties in local government may not be the bedtime reading you think you need but is essential reading for anyone leading a charity delivering public sector services or in receipt of local government funding. It walks us through S114 notices and offers reflections on how VCSE organisations may need to adapt to the future financial challenges. Suggestions include: - Meaningful place based and sector focused partnerships where the council may be only a convenor, no longer the main player - Long term relationship building with key audiences backed up with effective storytelling (social and financial storytelling I would say) - How to best leverage the skills and competencies necessary for the future e.g IT systems, performance reporting, data insight and mapping and how this may be too much to expect organisations to adopt individually. All that stuff we know but is so hard to do but more important now than ever. In part, it challenges us to consider how to explore the solutions for small charities to overcome the stubborn financial challenges by adopting organisational practices that are built on economies of scale to save money, share knowledge and bring consistency of reporting. My rapid take away from this report (rapid because I am a slow thinker so probably need to think through more) is what does it means to be a networked, adaptive and resilient small charity that leverages the power of shared resources and infrastructure in an uncertain and financially precarious world in order to keep services going? Simples right? Ha! If only. One go to solution is often to have fewer charities. This doesnt work for me for so many reasons. Too lazy. There are so many other solutions. Some ill thought through ones for starters: - Commons infrastructure hosted by funders - Thematic incubators with shared infrastructure and front facing autonomy - Pooled reserves funds for sectors - Fully funded local expert voluntary organisations specialising in supporting local charities (oh wait that one already exists...brilliant idea....woefully underfunded) What am I missing?

If you are an Ontario based charity you may very well be knee-deep in your OTF Seed Grant application. Take 2 minutes to review this summary of the most frequent reasons applications are declined - Non-Compliance with OTF Policies: Ensure your project aligns with key OTF policies such as Anti-Discrimination, Eligibility, and Financial Health. Non-compliance leads to automatic rejection. Ineligibility: Clearly articulate how your organization fits within OTF’s funding criteria. Explain your mission and services in Ontario to move past initial review stages. Be really clear, even if you feel you are over explaining. Insufficient Information: Provide detailed and relevant information about your project. Complete every section fully to give a comprehensive view of your initiative. These applications can't be thrown together last minute - the competition is too fierce. Missing or Incorrect Documents: Double-check required documents like quotes, photos, proof of ownership, lease agreements, and collaborative agreements. Missing or incorrect documentation results in application decline. Keep a checklist and use it! Improper Financial Statements: Submit financial statements according to your organization's revenue size. Ensure accuracy to meet OTF requirements. The requirements changed recently you now need to submit your two most recent years. Also, make sure you understand when you need to submit additional details. Incomplete Project Budget: Align your budget with the project plan. Avoid ineligible costs, provide clear cost breakdowns, and ensure costs are reasonable and connected to project activities. Make sure every itsm in your project workflow is covered in your budget and vice-versa. Unclear Community Benefit: Focus on local impact. Select a specific catchment area and clearly describe the community benefits. Link budget items to tangible community outcomes. Again, don't be afraid to repeat yourself, or over-explain. By addressing these common mistakes, you'll enhance your chances of securing funding for your impactful projects. Let's make a difference in our communities! 💪🌟 #GrantWriting #OTFGrants #CommunityImpact #NonprofitFunding

🏠 Are Rent Controls Really the Answer? 🔑 🏘️ As property prices soar and rental costs skyrocket, the debate on rent controls is heating up! 📈 🔥 Some argue that capping rents can protect tenants and make housing more affordable. Others claim it discourages Landlords from maintaining properties and stifles new housing developments. 🚧 🗣️ Are rent controls a necessary step to ensure a workable system for all? Have they worked in Scotland over the last 2 years? 🏢 💬 Or do they create more problems than they solve? 🤔 M2P aims to create social good through property by working with Housing Associations, Cooperatives, Charities and/or Councils to help house vulnerable people. We also help people to sell their property quickly. From time to time, we open up our books to investors. Signup for our weekly newsletter here: https://buff.ly/3VWYHFb #PropertyDebate #RentControl #RentStability #Landlords #Tenants #step1tostepdone #m2p

Small Business Owner Making a Difference in the UK?  Get the support you deserve to grow and build your impact! The National Lottery Community Fund can be powerful ally for your community-focused initiatives, that many haven't even heard of! Here’s why you should consider learning a little more: Transformative Funding: The fund provides grants from £300 to £5 million to support projects that improve community well-being and resilience. They've committed to growing their annual impact to £4bn by 2030, including doubling the small grant to a maximum of £20k with two year terms just last autumn! Diverse Eligibility: Whether you're a registered charity, community interest company, or a local group, you can apply for funding to bring your ideas to life! Focus on Impact: Grants are aimed at projects that bring people together, enhance community spaces, and help individuals reach their potential. Your business can play a key role in fostering connections and addressing local needs. Flexible Support: Funding can cover project activities, operational costs, and even long-term organisational development, allowing you to adapt and thrive in changing environments. Ongoing Applications: There’s no deadline! The application process is always available, so you can apply whenever your project is ready. Join a Community of Change-Makers: Over 272,000 grants have been awarded, totaling more than £11.7 billion since its inception. Be part of a movement that empowers communities across the UK! 💡 Ready to make a difference?  Visit the National Lottery Community Fund website to learn more about how you can apply and start your journey towards impactful community projects today! https://lnkd.in/eViv4kZt #SmallBusiness #CommunityImpact #FundingOpportunities #NationalLotteryCommunityFund #MakeADifference

Interested to see this from UK Finance and it's great that Societies get a specific mention. We frequently discuss as practitioners the barriers co-operative and community benefit societies face in banking. Unfortunately, at a glance: 1. The guidance on setting up an organisation in England references NCVO who specialise in charities and the information reflects this - detail on Societies is sparse and doesn't reference the "superpower" of community shares which has made them so popular for community groups wanting to save assets or set up community businesses. 2. The account finder function doesn't reference which banks will allow Societies to open an account (some don't have Societies on their drop down list!). Would be great to have seen some interaction with Co-operatives UK whose advice team know all about community shares and Society legal forms in addition to charities. Of course barriers to banking are nothing compared to getting HM Revenue & Customs to even issue a Unique Tax Reference to a Society! https://lnkd.in/et43RRff

Erm, any charities in our network looking to attain funding for big community work?? We are currently helping a national charity to get ready for a large lottery bid that will support them to develop a greater, more connected community across the UK. Are you a charity or non-profit looking to develop your community? Do you want to build deeper connections with your people? Do you want to enable supporting relationships between your beneficiaries ?  We are experts in this work. We collaborated with 60+ charities to created the award-winning Human Connection Framework during the pandemic, and since then we’ve built on this work to create organisation-wide transformation (One YMCA), develop tools for developing warm relationships with marginalised young people (Catch22) and train Google designers to weave human connection into their work (and teams). 🤝 We want to support others in creating impact by helping communities seed, develop and sustain. The National Lottery Community Fund is perfectly poised for this work, and we can help you to use this fund to help your community – both at a local and national scale: https://lnkd.in/g_SH8B7 Reach out to us for a chat about how we could do this work together: https://lnkd.in/edXNX5Ks #community #connection #charity #funding