FAQ’s

Our work centres on helping UK charities secure funding through:

• Crafting compelling Trust and Foundation applications
• Finding the right funding opportunities for your projects
• Developing practical fundraising strategies
• Reviewing your organisation to strengthen funding readiness

We don't just deliver services - we work alongside you to build your team's skills and confidence in securing sustainable funding.

Our experience spans many sectors including:

• Support for vulnerable people (elderly, disabled individuals, homeless populations)
• Criminal justice initiatives
• Programmes for children and young people
• Community development projects
• Educational and employment initiatives
• Environmental campaigns
• Mental health services
• Faith-based organisations

This breadth gives us valuable insights that we bring to every partnership.

We charge £350 per day. This investment typically delivers around £14 back for every £1 you spend with us - considerably better than the sector average of £7.90 return.

To illustrate: engaging us for one day weekly throughout a year (approximately 45 working weeks) would cost £15,750. Based on our performance history, this typically yields between £200,000-£300,000 for your charity.

Tendering for statutory funds or applying into bigger funders e.g. Lottery Reaching Communities could result in much larger awards and a better return on investment rate - Reaching Communities could for example, fund up to £500K.

Several factors can influence outcomes, including:
• Your financial reporting practices
• Your organisational structure
• The strength of your governance systems

We believe in flexibility that suits your circumstances:

• Choose contract periods of 6, 12, or 24 months
• All arrangements include a 30-day termination period
• One-off projects are available for specific needs
• Custom services like strategic planning can be arranged separately

Hiring a consultant rather than staff also removes costs such as:

• Employer contributions and benefits
• Technology and workspace expenses
• Management and HR support

Though legally permitted, commission-based fundraising raises ethical concerns in the charity sector. Major bodies like the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and the Fundraising Regulator caution against this approach.

We decline commission arrangements because they can:

• Create potential conflicts of interest
• Undermine donor confidence
• Complicate the collaborative nature of successful fundraising

Trust and Foundation fundraising requires patience. Typically:

• Most funding decisions arrive 4-6 months after submission
• Two-stage applications may take 9 months to reach decision stage
• Building relationships with funders is a gradual process

If your funding needs are urgent, we can discuss alternative approaches like crowdfunding that might better suit your immediate situation.

While we bring expertise and a strong track record, no responsible consultant can guarantee specific outcomes. Our value comes from:

• Applying specialist knowledge to improve your applications
• Strengthening your internal fundraising capabilities
• Providing objective external perspectives
• Connecting you with appropriate funders

Many factors affecting decisions lie beyond anyone's control, but our methodical approach maximises your chances of success.

The most productive partnerships we've experienced share these qualities:

• Open, honest communication about expectations
• A dedicated contact person from your team
• Prompt sharing of necessary information
• Regular check-ins to assess progress
• Genuine collaboration rather than delegation
• Willingness to implement strategic recommendations

Absolutely. We maintain comprehensive professional indemnity coverage to protect both our business and your charity throughout our working relationship.

We encourage you to:

• Review our experience and track record
• Speak with our existing or previous clients
• Discuss your specific needs in an initial consultation
• Check our professional credentials and affiliations
• Ask about our approach to your particular challenges

We welcome this scrutiny as part of building a foundation of trust.

A proper consulting agreement should clearly outline:

• The specific objectives and methodologies
• How fees are calculated and when they're payable
• The duration of our partnership
• Our professional standards and codes of conduct
• Safeguarding considerations
• How our work together will be evaluated

We provide detailed agreements that protect both parties and meet sector standards.

Fundraising operates within a regulated environment. Working with us means:

• Adherence to the Fundraising Code of Practice
• Alignment with Charity Commission guidelines
• Careful data protection measures
• Complete transparency in all activities
• Support for your trustees in meeting their obligations

We continuously monitor regulatory developments to keep your fundraising activities compliant.

You might benefit from our services if:

• Your mission and activities are clearly defined
• Your basic governance structures are in place
• You're facing fundraising challenges beyond your current expertise
• You want to explore new funding streams
• You can commit to implementing strategic advice

If you're uncertain, we offer preliminary discussions to assess your readiness and suggest appropriate next steps.

To serve you effectively, we typically look at:

• Your financial statements and annual reporting
• Strategic plans and organisational structure
• Your funding history (successes and challenges)
• Evidence of your impact and beneficiary stories
• Current fundraising materials and approaches
• Specific projects needing funding support

Don't worry if some elements are missing - helping develop these can be part of our work together.

Begin by reaching out for an exploratory conversation about your organisation and its challenges. This helps us understand if and how we might add value.

If there's a good fit, we'll create a tailored proposal outlining our suggested approach, timeline, and investment required. Once you're comfortable with the terms, we'll formalise our agreement and begin our partnership.